By Christopher Oji
There was pandemonium yesterday at the Owode Omirin area of Mile 12, Lagos, as the Badoo cult group killed three people in a church.
The police had, at the weekend, raided the Ikorodu axis and arrested 100 over the criminal activities of the gang.
The Badoo gang beared its fangs yesterday, attacking a ‘white garment’ church on Anibaba Street, Owode. In the attack, three people lost their lives, bringing the number of people killed by the gang to 34.
It was gathered that the latest victims, slaughtered inside the church, included a two-year-old boy.
A resident, Taiwo Animashaun, said: “The victims’ heads were smashed with grinding stones. Some parishioners, who came to sweep the church, discovered their bodies around 7am.
“As you can see, there is fear and apprehension in the community. We are afraid that the cult group, which concentrated in Ikorodu previously, has moved to Owode. They are moving down gradually from the suburb to Mile 12. This is a dangerous trend.
“We heard that after the weekend arrest by the police, the group wrote a letter threatening to deal with the people for inviting the police. We also heard that a Badoo suspect had confessed that over 160 members were recently initiated.”
Spokesman for the state police command, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, who confirmed the attack, said: “There was a murder case reported at the police station, but we don’t have to narrow it to Badoo killing. What we are investigating is murder. We will investigate the modus operandi of those behind the killing. We will look at the way the victims were killed before we can know whether it was Badoo killing or another form of murder.”
Meanwhile, the command has advised members of the public, especially residents of Ikorodu and environs, to move around with valid forms of identification.
Famous-Cole said: “This has become necessary following series of police operations lined up in the area. The command is deeply concerned about the criminal activities in the area, which is not only unlawful but also affecting the integrity of the state.
“The planned police operations demand residents to carry on them valid form of identification, which would be verified in order not to be restricted or face apprehension as adequate security arrangements have been put in place for the safety of citizen throughout the state by the police and other security agencies.”
Similarly, the Ogun State police command has warned the Badoo cult group to steer clear of the state or risk its wrath.
Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Iliyasu, said: “The command has made tactical and strategical deployment to deal with any form of security threat. Crime is crime; crime is dynamic, crime has no mark. Whether, it’s advance fee fraud, Badoo or any other crime, we are going to demystify you.”