Six suspected members of Aye and Eiye cult
groups that have been terrorizing Imoren area of Ikorodu, Lagos, have
been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.
Arrested alongside the suspects was a 58-year-old herbalist, Muritala Ige, who said he usually prepares protection charms for cultists. The suspects, according to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, were among 30 others arrested from different parts of the state in one week. He added that their arrest was effected following the confessional statement by leader of the Eiye confraternity group in Ikorodu, popularly known as J-Pron, a week earlier. One of the suspects, who identified himself as Balogun Kamarudeen, said he joined Aye group to protect himself and members of his family.
He said that he was among those who attacked members of the Eiye group while they were celebrating their anniversary last month in Imota area of Ikorodu, killing two. Attack, counter-attack According to Kamarudeen:
Arrested alongside the suspects was a 58-year-old herbalist, Muritala Ige, who said he usually prepares protection charms for cultists. The suspects, according to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, were among 30 others arrested from different parts of the state in one week. He added that their arrest was effected following the confessional statement by leader of the Eiye confraternity group in Ikorodu, popularly known as J-Pron, a week earlier. One of the suspects, who identified himself as Balogun Kamarudeen, said he joined Aye group to protect himself and members of his family.
He said that he was among those who attacked members of the Eiye group while they were celebrating their anniversary last month in Imota area of Ikorodu, killing two. Attack, counter-attack According to Kamarudeen:
Quote
“I am a member of Aye cult. On July 6, which was the eve of our 7/7
(July 7) anniversary, members of Eiye cult came to Imoren town and
killed seven of our members. “The attack was done in the month of
Ramadan fast. They said that was their anniversary present to us. The
attack on our members was published in the papers. “We bore the pain and
waited patiently until 8/8 (August 
when they too would be having their anniversary. I was among those who
visited Imota to avenge the death of our members. “We only killed two
members of Eiye. But our mandate was to kill eight of them. During the
cross-fire, they killed some innocent people. “
After that, we went
into hiding until I was arrested at 2a.m., last Tuesday. I joined
cultism to protect myself and my family from external and spiritual
forces. I am not the leader, but I am one of the hit men
when they too would be having their anniversary. I was among those who
visited Imota to avenge the death of our members. “We only killed two
members of Eiye. But our mandate was to kill eight of them. During the
cross-fire, they killed some innocent people. “
Quote
.”
However, a member of Eiye cult, said only four rival cult members were
killed during the Imoren attack, not seven as claimed by Kamarudeen. His
colleagues corroborated his claim. Why my charm failed them—HERBALIST
For the 58-year-old herbalist, Ige, “the charms I prepared for them were
to prevent cutlass, axe and bullet from penetrating their body and also
to fortify them spiritually against any affliction. “Members of Aye are
my clients and I usually prepare the charms with dogs and cocks. “The
reason why some of them died during the attack was because after the
spiritual fortification with the dog, instead of leaving the dog behind,
they went away with it. “When those who managed to escape came back, I
denied knowing them and requested for N5,000 consultation fee. The charm
they requested for was that which would make it impossible for them to
be arrested and against bullet.”
Items recovered from the suspects
were a Beretta pistol, one locally-made single-barrelled gun,
double-barrelled guns, cartridges, ammunition of different calibres and
charms.