Lagos Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edgal Imohimi

The police in Lagos have arrested over 70 suspected cultists, including those who allegedly killed a neighborhood corps official, in a major clampdown against cultism across the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the neighborhood official, Bolaji Monsuru, was killed at a bar in Aguda, Surulere on Wednesday while watching a soccer match by five suspected cultists.

Parading the suspects, Commissioner of Police in the state, Imohimi Edgal, said that the deceased was killed for allegedly spying on activities of the cultists.

“You will recall that I said the command will leave no stone unturned in unraveling the killers. I am glad to inform you that three suspected masterminds of the plot have been arrested.

“Investigation revealed that the deceased, who is an active member of Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps, had been spying on the activities of the cult group before he was killed.

” Monsuru had gone to watch soccer after work where he was attacked and killed by the hoodlums,” he said.

Imohimi added that the suspects had confessed to several killings at Surulere and one axe, a knife and a blood stained clothes recovered from them had been sent to the laboratory for forensic analysis.

Similarly, the command also arrested over 70 suspected cultists, 57 of whom were rounded up during an initiation meeting at Ajah in Lagos Island.

“Based on information, 57 confessed cultists were also arrested during which arms and ammunitions were recovered.

“The cultists were carrying out initiation at a shrine in a forest at Abule Agbamu, Elemoro, Ajah when the DPO with the support of Area J command and Anti-Kidnap unit mobilized and those involved were arrested.

” Some of them were out of their minds at the time of the arrest due to drug overdose.

“Two locally made cut to size gun, three life cartridges, 22 expended cartridges, two Suzuki mini bus, one Volkswagen bus, one Mitsubishi space wagon and two Toyota Camry cars were recovered from the suspects.

“The suspects would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation,” he said.

He said six cultists belonging to vikings, Eiye and Aye confraternities were picked up at Oluti, Ijegun, Satellite town, while two others dressed in black and shooting in the air were nabbed in Yaba.

According to him, four suspected cultists who failed to take advantage of renunciation programme were also arrested in Ikorodu area.

The CP appealed to parents to monitor the activities of their children to ensure that they are not lured into joining clandestine groups.