The Lagos State command of the Nigerian police on Monday raided an Ikorodu shrine belonging to suspected members of the Badoo cult group.
As part of the raid, a 51-year-old man, Alhaji Alaka Abayomi, who was said to be working with the group, was arrested along with two others.Lagos command’s spokesperson, Olarinde Famous-Cole, said a joint team, comprising operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, Rapid Response Squad, Special Anti-Robbery Squad and task force personnel uncovered five buildings used by the gang.
Famous-Cole, in a statement, said a shrine and different kinds of charms were found in the buildings.
He said, “The team, which was led by the Commissioner of Police, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, uncovered the shrine of the dreaded cult terrorising residents of Ikorodu.
“The team had earlier arrested one Alhaji Alaka Abayomi, a resident of Magodo, and he has been linked to the cult and the recent murder of the Adejare family of five, who were attacked in their one-bedroomed apartment in Oke Ota, Ibeshe Ikorodu.
“The suspect confessed to know others, who own shrines in the area and led the police to the cult’s shrine in Agbowa town. Different ritual objects and charms were recovered in each of the five buildings in the compound which was fenced with charms to scare away intruders. The compound was always under lock and key. The police also made two different arrests as surveillance has been heightened.”
The command added that efforts were being intensified to unravel more hideouts of the gang and track down other Badoo members.
Credit: Punch Metro