By Christopher Oji
It was jubilation time yesterday, at the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Lagos, as a suspected member of the dreaded ‘Badoo’ cult was arrested by residents.
The suspect was arrested at Ayegbami community, in Igbogbo, while allegedly attempting to attack a family. He narrowly escaped lynching when a mob descended on him, as he was rescued by some elders, who handed him over to the police.
Daily Sun gathered that the suspect, in company with others now on the run, had gone to the home of a would-be victim when they were sighted by one of the residents.
A resident, Shakiru Seidu, jubilated over the arrest, claimed that the security measures put in place by the residents paid off, with the arrest of the suspect.
He said: “We are jubilating because we have suffered untold hardship in the hands of Badoo members. Over 15 families had been attacked, with about 20 deaths recorded. We are so exited because it was as if they were invisible. If the police handle the matter well, they would find out who the other members are.
“The security challenges ravaging Ikorodu division recently has made residents to become more security alert and it necessitated the apprehension of the notorious suspected Badoo cultist.”
Another resident, Wasiu, said: “One of us saw a man that was half naked with a stone in his hand and he was attempting to gain access to a house at Felefon Street.
“He quickly raised the alarm and the culprit quickly hid the stone inside a big bowl he found nearby, placed it upon his head pretending to be on his way to fetch water and fled.
“His action was so suspicious that people trooped out en masse and gave him a hot chase till he was finally nabbed at Akindana Street.
“He started pleading for mercy and promised to offer the youths who nabbed him N5,000, but the youths descended on him. He increased the offer to N10,000, but they refused to yield.
“They dealt mercilessly with him before the CDA chairman, Baba Awe, and Oba Abdulsemiu Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, who had been duly notified of the arrest, came to his rescue.
“He was later handed over to the police for further interrogation, to avoid jungle justice. The police handed him over to one of the elders in Igbogbo, Alhaji Jelili Abubakri and the Neighborhood Safety Corp members to take him to the Ikorodu General Hospital for treatment. They promised to bring him back to the police for further interrogation.”
After the suspect was handed over to the police, Wasiu said the newly transferred Ikorodu DPO, CSP I. O. Lawal, addressed everyone and equally gave his direct lines to the residents to alert him on any criminal activities.
Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olarinde Famous-Cole, said he was not aware of any Badoo suspect in the police net.