Metro

Two Killed As Lagos Rival Cult Groups Clash

Published

2 years ago

March 27, 2023

Suspected cultists said to be avenging the killing of their colleague by a rival group on Thursday, March 16, hacked one Moses aka Loworo to death on Tapa Street in the Bariga area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that some members of a cult group had killed a rival cult member identified simply as Ayo in a community in Shomolu area of the state earlier that day.

A source, who did not want his name in print because of the sensitive nature of the matter, told said that in a bid to avenge Ayo’s death, his colleagues trailed his suspected killers to Bariga where they launched a reprisal on Moses.

He said, “The problem started in the morning when Ayo was attacked and killed in his area in Shomolu. He was killed at about 11am while his left hand was cut off and taken away by the cultist.

“Later in the evening, members of a cult group came to avenge the death of their colleague. When they came into the community, they were looking for members of their rival group and that was how they saw Moses.

“At that point, Moses was standing alone close to a kiosk on Tapa Street and was not aware of the presence of the cultists. Suddenly, their vehicle moved close to him and four guys came out and surrounded him. That was when one of them pulled a gun and shot him three times. After shooting him, he wanted to escape but he fell. Then they inflicted machete cuts on him.

“When other members of his group heard what happened, they rushed down to the spot and found his body in the drainage where it was dumped. They also attempted to chase those who attacked him but they did not see any of them.”

The source added that the incident caused apprehension in the area as business owners locked their shops.

“Shortly after the incident, people who have shops in the area quickly closed for the day and rushed home. Most of them did not open the following day (Friday) because of the incident. They were also scared that his death could lead to a breakdown of law and looting of their shops by louts,” he added.

The source said the Bariga Divisional Police Officer later visited the scene of the incident and took the corpse to the mortuary.

When contacted on Sunday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said he was not aware of the incident.

“I am not aware of this,” he stated in a text message sent to The PUNCH.

Metro

EFCC Probes Man Nabbed With Undeclared $420,900 At Kano Airport

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched a full-scale investigation into the case of one Ahmad Salisu, who was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service for attempting to smuggle large sums of undeclared foreign currencies through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

Salisu was intercepted during a routine security check on Monday, July 7, 2025, with a staggering sum of $420,900 (Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Nine Hundred US Dollars), £5,825, CFA3,946,500, and Cameroonian CFA 224,000.

The concealed cash, wrapped in a polythene bag and hidden under clothes in the suspect’s luggage, was discovered during a physical inspection by Customs officials.

Following his arrest, Salisu allegedly confessed that he was acting on behalf of his brother, Auwal Ahmad, who is currently in Saudi Arabia.

He claimed he was instructed to deliver the money to two individuals: Yusuf Adamu and Abdulhamid Rabiu, who were arrested shortly after arriving to receive the funds.

In a statement on Tuesday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said after preliminary interrogation and documentation, the trio, along with the seized funds, were handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.

He said during a joint press briefing held at the NCS Kano/Jigawa Area Command, the Kano Zonal Director of the EFCC, Commander Ibrahim Shazali, reiterated the agency’s firm stance against illegal cash smuggling and financial crimes.

He said, “The EFCC and the Nigerian Customs Service, working in concert, have zero tolerance for illegal cash smuggling.

“Our surveillance is active, our intelligence is sharp, and our resolve to apprehend offenders is unwavering.

“Attempting to circumvent our financial laws and border controls is a futile and costly endeavour.”

He further urged members of the public, particularly those in the aviation and financial sectors, to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements of large volumes of cash.

The Customs Area Comptroller, Dalhatu Abubakar, emphasised the importance of currency declaration as a critical tool in Nigeria’s fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

“These measures are designed to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system and prevent the flow of funds to criminal networks, terrorists, and drug traffickers,” Abubakar said.

According to the EFCC, the suspects will be formally charged in court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.

Metro

Driver Stabs Former Boss To Death In Lagos

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Editor

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old driver, Ayomide Oluwadamilare, for allegedly murdering his former employer, Kola Adun, and attempting to sell the victim’s stolen vehicle.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, the suspect was apprehended while trying to sell the deceased’s Toyota Camry in the Ijede area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

Odutola said the murder came to light after residents of River Valley Estate, Ojodu Berger, raised alarm over a foul odour coming from the victim’s apartment.

“At about 1300hrs on July 7, 2025, the Divisional Police Officer, Ojodu Abiodun Division, received a distress call from Mubarak area in Akute regarding an offensive smell from a building.

“Officers proceeded to Ogunmoyero Street, River Valley Estate, and upon forcing entry into the premises, discovered the decomposing body of one Mr. Kola Adun on the first floor.

“The body bore visible stab wounds with bloodstains found at the scene,” the statement read in part.

Odutola added that suspicions had already been raised the day before, when a friend who was supposed to pick Adun for Sunday service discovered the gate locked from outside and couldn’t reach him on the phone.

“His mobile phone later went off, prompting the friend to alert the victim’s family and the police,” Odutola noted.

The PPRO stated that preliminary investigation revealed that Oluwadamilare, the deceased’s former driver, had allegedly broken into the residence on Saturday, and stabbed Adun to death before fleeing with his Toyota Camry with registration number AAA 193 GC.

She said the case took a turn when the suspect tried to sell the car to a dealer in Ijede, Ikorodu, who found his story suspicious and promptly contacted the police.

“The suspect was arrested at the point of sale.

“The remains of the deceased have been evacuated to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, for autopsy, while the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation and prosecution,”Odutola concluded.

Metro

Police Arrest Cultist For Murder, Abduction In Anambra Community

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old cultist identified as Chukwujekwu Okoye, also known as “Bus-Stop,” in connection with the murder of two persons in Oko community, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the spokesman for the state command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect was arrested on Monday by police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu.

Recall that the incident, which reportedly occurred at the Total Junction near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, on May 22, left two persons dead and two others abducted.

It was gathered that the two abducted victims were later released in early June after ransom was paid by the families.

Ikenga, who disclosed the information of the arrest, also said the operatives recovered one automatic pump-action gun and two handsets from the suspect.

He said, “Police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, on July 7, 2025, arrested a male suspect called Chukwujekwu Micheal Okoye a.k.a Bus-Stop, aged 25 years old.

“The arrest is a follow-up to the disturbing incident at Oko which records the injury to two persons, murder of two persons and abduction of two others who were later released after ransom was paid early last month at the Total Junction and Tipper Junction, respectively, all in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area.

“The operatives also recovered one automatic pump-action gun and two handsets.

“It would be recalled that the suspect in the early hours of May 22, 2025, robbed a victim of his handset and other valuables at gunpoint in Oko.

“He confessed to being an active member of the Aye Confraternity Cult group and currently holding a position as a Lord.

“He also stated how they perfected plans for the initiation ceremony and rivalry cult attack yesterday, 7th July 2025, and revealed details of how he and six (6) other gang members attacked Oko on the 19th of June 2025.”

Ikenga said, given the information provided by the suspect, the police command has activated plans for the arrest of other gang members aimed at dismantling the criminal network in the state, adding that further developments would be communicated.