Metro

Rampaging Cultists Hack Three To Death In Lagos

Published

11 months ago

July 16, 2025

Tension has begun to brew among residents and business owners in the Ebute Meta area of Lagos State after three residents were killed in a suspected cultists’ attack.

The PUNCH learnt on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Sunday and Monday.

The victims were identified simply as Agbara, Butcher and a plumber whose identity had yet to be ascertained.

It was gathered that Agbara was attacked and killed in the Lagos Street area of the community on Sunday.

A resident who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media on the matter said the victim’s body was found lying lifeless on the street in the evening with machete cuts.

“I was at home when I suddenly heard people running for safety. When I stepped outside to find out what was happening, I was informed that someone was being attacked further down the street. After a short while, we went to the scene and found a person lying on the ground. On closer look, we saw multiple cuts on his body. He was popularly known as Agbara.”

In what appeared to be a reprisal, the two other victims of the attack were killed on Monday.

Another resident who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity confirmed that Butcher was killed in the Makoko area.

“We learnt of Butcher’s death this morning. He was killed last night. He earned the nickname because his father sells meat. His body was found somewhere around Makoko and wrapped in a cloth. Some deep cuts were also found on his neck. We were told he left a pregnant wife behind.”

While speaking on the killing of the third victim, the resident said Butcher was dragged to a location on Abeokuta Street and stabbed to death on the spot, the same day.

“We have yet to know the identity of the third person, but he was killed around the Abeokuta bridge. People initially thought he was apprehended for an offence relating to debt, given the way he was dragged along the street. It was later that his corpse was found under the bridge with his throat severed. We want the police to act on this. We want peace in our community because the situation is getting out of hand,” the resident said.

Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that the incident was due to an ongoing cult rivalry in the community.

The PUNCH reported that a footballer identified simply as Kamo was on Thursday hacked to death by unidentified assailants in the community.

The deceased was observing his routine training session at a popular local football ground known as “Centre Field.”

It was gathered that the late Kamo, who was a goalkeeper for a grassroots team, otherwise known as B-Unit Football Club, had finished his morning drills when some male adults accosted him on his way home.

A resident who did not want his name mentioned in print for security reasons told our correspondent on Saturday that the attackers immediately descended on Kamo with dangerous weapons and left him with fatal cuts on his head.

He was, however, said to have succumbed to the injuries on the spot before help could arrive.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said he had yet to be briefed on the development.

“I don’t have information on it yet.”

Meanwhile, Hundeyin in a statement on Tuesday said the police command had deployed Anti-Cultism Squads in all Area Commands within the state.

According to him, the squads have been equipped to respond swiftly and professionally to cultism-related threats and are tasked with conducting surveillance, responding to distress calls, apprehending suspected cultists, and working with local communities to dismantle cultism networks.

“In furtherance to this, the command hereby makes available the phone numbers of the squads by Area Command: Area A (Lagos Island) – 08035216190, Area B (Apapa) – 08033781718, Area C (Surulere) – 08035740254, Area D (Mushin) – 08030454334, Area E (Festac) – 08036883998, Area F (Ikeja) – 08134619604, Area G (Ogba) – 08033900991, Area H (Ogudu) – 08034004076, Area J (Ajah) – 08032191689, Area K (Morogbo) – 08076134280, Area M (Idimu) – 08024248069, Area N (Ijede) – 08034806328, Area P (Alagbado) – 08090837383, SCID PANTI – 08133390333.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, urges members of the public to play an active role in this effort by providing credible intelligence as quickly as possible. All reports will be treated with utmost confidentiality,” the statement added.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

14 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.

Metro

Police Arrest Private Chef Over Alleged N150m Theft, Drugging Of Employer, Burglary

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a chef, John Cosmos Govi, over his alleged involvement in a burglary operation at a residence in Abuja, where luxury items and valuables worth about N150 million were reportedly stolen.

The arrest was announced on Monday, May 25, 2026, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, who said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) after investigations into allegations of criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, theft, malicious damage and administering harmful substances.

According to police findings, Govi, who allegedly gained employment as a chef at the residence, was said to have studied the movement of occupants, internal routine and security setup before allegedly carrying out the operation on April 23, 2026.

Investigators said he reportedly worked with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses, who are currently on the run.

Police alleged that food prepared in the house was laced with a suspected sedative substance to weaken the occupants and security personnel.

After they reportedly became unconscious, the suspects allegedly broke into the property, damaged CCTV installations and stole 20 luxury wristwatches valued at about N150 million, alongside other valuables.

Speaking on the development, DCP Anthony Placid said the suspect was intercepted around the Gwagwalada axis of the Federal Capital Territory while attempting to flee to Lagos. He added that an iPhone 17 Pro Max, believed to belong to the victim, and a suspected chemical substance were recovered.

“We remain committed to dismantling organised criminal networks and ensuring that all fleeing accomplices are brought to justice,” Placid said.

Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and conclude investigations into the case.