*Alleged gang leader arrested
The Lagos state police command on Monday uncovered a shrine said to be used for initiation and blood sacrifices by members of the dreaded Badoo cult group in Ikorodu.
The shrine, which is located at a large expanse of land surrounded by thick bush in the Agbowa area of Ikorodu, was busted in the early hours of Monday by police men led by the command’s Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations, Mr. Edgal Imohimi, with support from the Inspector General of Police Special Tactical Squad (STS).
The owner of the shrine and the alleged gang leader who identified himself as Alhaji Alaka Aboyomi, led the police team into the shrine where four graves were found in the compound and another one that looked fresh was spotted on a corner in the compound.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the police had received a tip off which it acted upon swiftly and arrested the said owner of the shrine who was said to have been evading arrest.
Also found in the compound were big-horned figurines and other graven images which happen to be the deities worshipped by members of the group, baskets, broken eggs, left over sacrifices and metal gongs.
There were also inscriptions on the walls of the shrine which had old and very thick blood stains on them. Our correspondent had called the command’s spokesperson, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole for more details, but he wasn’t responding to calls. A text message was also sent but as at the time of filing in this report, he was yet to get back to us.
This development is coming on the heels of months of attacks by the dreaded gang and the subsequent joint operation by security forces in the state to clamp down on the activities of the gang.
The most recent of their activity was also reported when the gang had on Sunday attacked and murdered a family of four at the Oke Ota, Ilesha area of Ikorodu.
Other suspects arrested are the Baale of Ipakodo, a town on the outskirt of Ikorodu and one Junior Christian and Owoyemi Bamidele, both of whom were arrested alongside the shrine owner.
A source said the Baale, Alhaji Tijani Awoyemi, was arrested for allowing his domain to be used as a den for ritual shrines.
