Communities in Maya, Itele, Parafa and Idafa in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, have cried out to Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, their representatives in the state and national assemblies, as well as the Police authorities in the state, to come to their rescue over rampant killings and attacks by cult groups operating in the area.
Victims and relatives of murdered persons, while speaking to The Nation last Friday after four persons were killed during a week long cult war between the Eiye and Aiye cult groups, said troops of young boys invaded the communities since last Sunday afternoon and turned the area to a war zone.
“More than a hundred boys came into our communities from various places with dangerous arms and ammunition following they killing of one of the cult boys around here on Sunday by members of a rival cult group during an argument at Maya bus stop. By evening of the same day, another person was gunned down in Itele.
“Many people returning late from town that day were stranded as the cultists exchanged gun fire indiscriminately. Residents of all the communities here were left in fear and anxiety all through Sunday night as the shooting continued all night long. Not even the arrival of the police could douse the tension,” our source said.
The Nation learnt that the clashes continued all through the week and by Wednesday, two other persons were gunned down in the cult war and several residents were forced to abandoned their homes and seek refuge elsewhere for fear of being caught in the unabating crossfire.
“By Wednesday, two more boys were killed in the area by cultists. Their activities and clashes are no longer restricted to the nights as they now fight and kill themselves in broad daylight. Efforts by the communities to appeal to the warring factions failed as the cultists allegedly vowed to fight to the last man.
“The police too has been unable to curb the fights. Credit must however be given to the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. S.O.B A gunbiade who unrelentingly kept contact with the communities and updated the police commissioner and other relevant agencies on the need for more security measures to be taken. We also thank the Onyabo Vigilante group. They really tried.
“We however want to tell the whole world that lives and properties are no longer safe here in Maya. These boys have turned our streets to war zones and our children are no longer free to go to school. All schools, including the public secondary and primary schools around here were closed for the better part of last week.
What we want is for Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, our representatives in the state and national assemblies, as well as the Police authorities in the state, to come to our rescue over rampant killings and attacks by cult groups operating in our area. These boys are not part of us here. They were invited here and we need them to be forced out,” another source, a traditional ruler in Idafa, lamented.
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