Police arrest 23 suspects over Lekki cult killing

Lagos State Police Command has arrested 23 suspected cultists in connection with the killing of three individuals in the Lekki Phase 1 area of the state.

The three victims were attacked and killed at their makeshift home early on Monday.

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Wednesday.

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Hundeyin also stated that the state police commissioner, Olohundare Jimoh, has implemented a new Sustainable Crime Prevention, Detection, and Control Strategy for the entire Lekki-Ajah area.

As part of these measures, some Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the affected areas have been redeployed.

The police spokesperson added that the Command has strengthened and beefed up security across Lekki, Ajah, Ogombo, and Elemoro with the implementation of new strategies to ensure the safety of lives, properties, and private and public investments.

To further reinforce security, the Eko Strike Force, a specialised intervention unit, has been deployed to the Lekki and Ajah areas.

The Command has commenced a discreet investigation into the incident, which Hundeyin described as an “inter-cult clash” that resulted in the death of “three cultists” at a security duty post.

The clash, which involved members of rival cult groups, occurred around 5:00 am on Sunday.

Following the incident, the recently established Anti-Cultism Team and other tactical units under the Elemoro Area Command were immediately deployed to Lekki Phase 1, leading to extensive raids on criminal hideouts and black spots.

This operation resulted in the arrest of the 23 suspects, who were identified as: Frank Okpara, 27; Friday Ebuka, 27; Babatunde Mufutau, 24; Suleiman Muri, 2; Olamide Malik, 24; Nwaka Lucky, 34; Raphael Ashim, 30; Wasiu Kareem, 33; Sadiq Olabisi, 40; Ibrahim Abdul, 22; Ibrahim Aminu, 37; Nasiru Musa, 27; Friday Nwafor, 51; Ahmed Fatai, 26; Aro Abiola, a.k.a. Zino, 25; Tijani Shehu, a.k.a. Abana, 26; Gift Igedi, 31; Ugochukwu Chike, 30; Ridwan Alex, 37; Happiness Otigbo, 27; Abiodun Adegun, 37; Adedayo Adeoti, 27; and Afeez Ahmed, 31.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, fourteen rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one military camouflage cap, two cutlasses, wraps of Indian hemp, one charm, and three Indian hemp crushers.