Cultists lay three-day siege on Lagos streets

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Residents of Adedoyin, Awofeso, and four other streets in Somolu, Lagos have recounted how some suspected cultists attacked the area, injuring people and stealing their belongings last weekend.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the other areas touched by the armed cultists included Olorunshogo, Eyo, Ige and Opeloyeru streets. Our correspondent gathered that the cultists attacked the area from about 10pm on Friday evening, going from street to street. They were said to have struck on no fewer than seven streets by Saturday and Sunday evenings.

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When our correspondent visited the area on Tuesday, a resident on Awofeso Street, who identified himself simply as Afeez, recalled that the cultists came armed with guns and cutlasses. He added that they were no fewer than 15 in number.

He said,

“On Friday night, at about 9pm, they took over the streets. While some of them stood on the road to harass passersby with cutlasses, others lurked at corners and broke into houses to steal. They collected phones, laptops, money and the most unfortunate thing was that they raped some ladies.

“It seemed that these hoodlums were gaining more confidence by the day. Most of us in the area now live in fear of the unknown as the cultists could resurface anytime, and unleash further terror at will. Some of them were said to have even boasted that no police or other government security outfit could curtail them.”

Another resident, who declined to give his name, alleged that the police in the area were handicapped to curtail the situation because some of the suspected cultists had very ‘powerful’ godfathers.

He said,

 “I believe these cultists should not be a problem for the police to handle if they are truly ready to arrest them. The problem is that some godfathers of the cultists will not allow the police to do their statutory work.

“The unfortunate thing is that it is innocent residents that fall victims of their rampage. It is our money, our phones and other property that are stolen by cultists. It is our young ladies that these hoodlums doublecross at night, and rape. This is bad. The police should strengthen security in Somolu and put an end to cultists’ onslaughts here.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State acting Police Public Relations Officer, Lelma Kolle, said he would call our correspondent back, but had yet to do so as of the time of this report.