The Lagos State Police Command has announced the arrest of 87 suspected Badoo cultists while declaring 20 other people wanted in connection with activities of the group in Ikorodu.
Information from the police has it that the 87 suspected Badoo were arrested in an all-night operation on their hideouts in Owutu and Odongunyan in Ikorodu.
Those declared wanted for cult related killings include Moshood (aka Mosho), Alfa (aka King of Boys), Papa, Fela, Alakoto and Chukwudi.
The police also declared 14 others wanted for kidnapping in Ikorodu. They include Agbara, O/C, Femi (aka FM), Pencil, Odidan, Jaru, Allen, Bush, Happiness, Fagbo, Junior, Nuru and Jamiu.
The police called on the suspects to come out of their hideouts and report themselves to the nearest police station, while urging members of the public with useful information on the suspects who are all residents of Ikorodu to volunteer such information.
Before the operations, the police in conjunction with members of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), representatives of the Nigerian Army, Lagos Neighbourhood Security Corps and Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) met with traditionalists in Ikorodu and its suburbs on the need to collaborate with the police to wipe out the cult group in Ikorodu.
Representing the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, at the meeting, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Imohimi Edgal, warned the traditionalists and local vigilantes to eschew jungle justice, stressing that the command would not tolerate further excesses from the security stakeholders.
Edgal solicited for more information that would help the police to speedily end the activities of the group in the area.
The police commissioners later met with traditional rulers in Ikorodu.
Also involved in the exercise were the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Olatunji Disu; Acting Area Commander, Ikorodu and all DPOs in Ikorodu among other senior police officers.
