By Christopher Oji
There was pandemonium, yesterday, at the Aga area of Ikorodu, Lagos, as a member of the dreaded Badoo Cult group was set ablaze by angry residents.
Four persons were reportedly shot by police in a bid to rescue the suspect.
But Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni denied that anybody was shot.
Daily Sun gathered that a man believed to be a member of the dreaded Badoo Cult group was arrested at the Oniogunsanya area of Aga by local vigilance group.
The vigilance group was said to have locked the man inside a room used as security post and went on patrol.
It was gathered that while on patrol, news came that the suspect had escaped.
A resident, Gbemisola Ariyo said the vigilance group later found the man naked with oil all over his body, a sign that he was a Badoo member. One of the modes of operations of Badoo members is to rub oil on their body during operation.
“The suspect had escaped and was attacking a widow. It was at that instance he was arrested the second time.
“This time around, the vigilance people decided to keep vigil on the man till daybreak.
“The vigilance people started interrogating the man, who told them that he was sent by some people, but refused to mention their names, as he claimed he would die if he did.
“Before dawn, news of the arrest had spread like wild fire and angry residents stormed the vigilance post calling for the head of the suspect. The angry mob did not want the vigilance group to hand the man over as they believed he would be released by the police.
“The police were contacted. On their arrival, the mob started throwing stones and other weapons at them.
“The police retreated and came back the second time, shooting sporadically. The mob resisted. A trigger happy policeman fired at the crowd and four persons were hit. An old man was shot in the stomach while three other were hit in the legs.
“It was after the shooting that the youths in the area threatened to burn the house where the suspect was kept. The vigilance group had no option than to hand over the suspect to the mob.
“The man was beaten to a pulp before he was set ablaze. After setting him ablaze, another police team arrived the scene, but the mob was shouting that they were okay with the killing of the Badoo suspect.
Another witness, Tunde Adio said they were happy the suspect was burnt.
“About 12 families have been exterminated by the Badoo cult group. If we had allowed the police to take the man, he would have been released. It is the truth.
“The police shot four persons. The Commissioner of Police was here and he gave out money for the treatment of the shot victims. He cautioned us against jungle justice and taking laws into our hands.”
The Commissioner of Police told Daily Sun that he was in the crime scene to maintain law and order.
“There was a case that a suspected member of Badoo cult group was apprehended. The residents took laws into their hands and started meting out jungle justice on the suspect.
“The police raced to the scene on a rescue mission, but the residents started destroying police vehicle. The thing was becoming chaotic; to avoid further problems, the police went back and the suspect was set ablaze.
“I went there to talk to the people to be calm and shun jungle justice. For anyone to say that the police shot anyone is a lie. The police did not shoot anyone. I want residents to go about their normal duties as we have put adequate security measures in place.”