Following constant cult clashes threatening the peace of Agbotikuyo in the Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, residents have called for help from the state government and security agencies.
The complaints come as the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, announced the arrest of 12 suspected cultists and two drug suppliers during a two-week operation in the area.
A cult identified as Awawa Boys has been a menace to the residents, passersby, and commuters who are not spared by the hoodlums.
The PUNCH reported that the hoodlums break into rooms and shops where they dispossess people of their valuables.
A landlady in the community, who identified herself as Mama Samuel, said the cult members intensified attacks on residents in May 2022.
She said, “After the Ramadan fast, they started robbing from house to house. They number over 200, using weapons such as cutlasses, guns, and charms.
“They even destroy shops and break into them to steal things. The only thing that saves some of us is our burglary-proof bars because if your house doesn’t have iron doors, they will surely rob you. But they break glass windows at will while shouting that we should open the doors or they will break them down and kill us.
“They went to my neighbour’s house, shot the door open, entered, and took all their phones after beating them up.
“They ransacked another lady’s wardrobe, took all her business money, and beat her to a coma.”
Another landlord, Tajudeen Ambali, 83, said, “Those boys tried to enter my house but for my iron door. They, however, entered the following compound.
“They come every three days apart, and when they destroy your window, and you repair it, when they come three days later, they’ll destroy it again.
“They come between 8pm and 12am. We are begging the government to come to our aid.”
A retired police officer, Pa Rufus Akindade, 88, said he was attacked in his house.
He said, “They came, broke into my compound, but not into my apartment because of the iron doors. But I am afraid; if they come back like they said they would this evening, I may be killed.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that residents had reported some of the attacks at the Elere Police Station and Isokoko Police Station without any respite.
