Confraternity, who allegedly used a residence on Halidu Avenue in
Shibiri, in the Okokomaiko area of the state, for cult activities, Punch
reports.
Among the suspects are three brothers, David Richard, 33; Sunday
Richard, 39; and 29-year-old Odefe Richard. Two other siblings, John
Agboroko, 30; and 34-year-old Matthew Agboroko, were also apprehended.
Other suspects are Samson Okpe, 32; Paul Jago 30; Saheed Oriyomi; 32; and 29-year-old David Quenum from the Republic of Benin.
The police said the residence belonged to one Mrs. Rosemary Lawrence, who lives on Old Marine Road, Apapa.
According to Punch Metro, a shrine, where new members were initiated,
was uncovered by a team of policemen who stormed the compound at about
5am on Saturday.
It was gathered that wraps of drugs suspected to be cannabis were also recovered from the scene.
A police source told our correspondent that some operatives had been on
surveillance of the area prior to the arrest of the suspects.
“There was a shrine in an apartment on that premises, where the suspects
used to meet and initiate new members. We got information that the gang
was initiating new members and we stormed the compound. Some of the
suspects are siblings. We have been keeping a close watch on the group’s
activities for some time. They are Eiye Confraternity members,” the
source said.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos,
confirmed the arrest, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai
Owoseni, had directed that the suspects be charged to court.
She said,
“At about 11.30pm on Friday, information was received that a house on
Halidu Avenue, Shibiri, owned by one Mrs. Rosemary Lawrence, was
allegedly being used for the initiation of cultists.
The place was
raided and nine suspects were arrested. Some wraps of weeds suspected to
be hemp were recovered in a shrine allegedly used for the initiation of
new members. The suspects are still under investigation.”