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Supremacy clashes: Cultists kill undergraduate, tiler in Lagos

Published

3 years ago

April 24, 2023

Supremacy clashes: Cultists kill undergraduate, tiler in Lagos

Supremacy clashes involving members of the Aiye and the Eiye confraternities at Ijanikin, in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, have led to the deaths of two persons including an undergraduate of the Lagos State University, Kamoru Lasisi, and a tiler, Lateef Atanda.

PUNCH Metro gathered that members of the cult groups had been engaging one another in a series of clashes for over two months, a situation that had been creating tension in the community.

During the clashes, our correspondent learnt that the cultists usually engaged themselves with weapons including guns, cutlasses, and machetes, among others, and had created strongholds that had been threatening the lives and property of residents and business owners plying their trades in the community.

Speaking with our correspondent, a resident in the area, who refused to mention his name for security reasons, said aside from the cultists killing one another, the threats induced by their activities had degenerated to the point of them killing innocent members of the community.

The resident said, “The cultists’ attacks in my area are a major concern; initially, they usually go after one another, but now, what they do is go after people that are not cultists in the community. The clashes involve members of the Aiye and Eiye cult groups and each of the groups has a territory in the community that they control.

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“In Ijanikin, Aiye cultists are in charge of Alasia down to Adio, Ayetoro, and Ketu areas, but Oto, Cele and Ile Oba Bus Stops, and some parts of Adio are controlled by the Eiye cult groups. Two weeks ago, Aiye cultists stormed the Cele Bus Stop area and shot a 400-level undergraduate of LASU, Kamoru Lasisi. He was shot dead in front of his father’s house despite not being a cultist.

“About two months ago, around 7.50pm, Aiye cultists came to the territory of Eiye cultists to attack a rival and did not meet their target. What they did next was to attack and kill an innocent boy, Lateef Atanda, who just finished writing his WAEC and does tiling business.

“The boy was shot dead on Ago-Idosa Street, Vespa Bus Stop, in the presence of his father, who was pleading with the cultists not to kill him. He was not a cultist and people in the area testified to it. There is always a reprisal for these attacks and it causes unconfirmed killings in the community.”

Another resident in the community who spoke anonymously to our correspondent for security reasons, while lamenting over the development, said the cultists usually assume that anyone found around their targets were cultists and go after them when they could not get their main targets.

The resident said, “The Aiye and Eiye cultists are hunting one another in the community, and when they are doing so, whoever they see with their targets, they don’t bother to do any fact findings to know if the person is a cultist or not, they just attack and kill the person.

“They operate with guns and other weapons. People are afraid in the Ijanikin community. The painful thing is that we know these cultists in the community as they are not strangers. So, whenever people see them appear in the community, they start running for their lives because they know that an attack can happen at any time.

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“Initially, we usually face the cultists to chase them away but we stopped as we don’t have the necessary support. The cultists know the policemen at Ijanikin Police Station and get the information whenever they are coming for a raid and flee the community. We want the police command to bring in external policemen to work with us to do an underground operation to arrest these cultists as we are willing to lead them to their hideouts in Ijanikin.”

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “The Commissioner of Police, upon assumption of duty in Lagos State, identified cultism as a major problem in the state and that informed his decision to decentralise our tactical unit by deploying the unit out of the state command and stationed at different parts of the state including Badagry which covers Ijankin and they have started work.

“We are aware that cultism is on the high side in Ijanikin but in the coming days or weeks, there should be a sharp decline in the activities of cultists in that area.”

Meanwhile, unrest and killings occasioned by the activities of cultists had been sending shivers down the spines of residents and business owners in the state.

On Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, during a parade of 42 suspected cultists at the command headquarters in the Ikeja area of the state, said he created a special unit to frontally address the emerging threats posed by cultists in the state.

Noting that the 42 suspects were arrested during intelligence-led operations in Ijora, Orile, Ebute Meta, and Ikorodu areas, Owohunwa said the preliminary investigations revealed that the cultists’ supporters or networks had developed the capacity to locally fabricate semi-automatic and automatic shotguns.

“Our investigations are not only focused on identifying other members of these networks but to also get to the root of the fabricators of these dangerous weapons,” he added.

Related Topics:Cultists Lagos Supremacy undergraduate

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Bauchi Reduces Working Hours for Civil Servants During Ramadan

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39 minutes ago

February 18, 2026

Trends Admin

Bauch State Governor, Bala Mohammed

Bauchi Reduces Working Hours for Civil Servants During Ramadan

The Bauchi State Government has announced a reduction in working hours for civil servants during the holy month of Ramadan, aimed at accommodating fasting schedules and religious observances.

A statement issued by the State Head of Service, Dr. Yusuf Gidado, directed all civil service offices to adjust their working hours from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm throughout the month. The adjustment applies to both permanent and contract staff across all ministries, departments, and agencies.

Dr. Gidado urged civil servants to use the shortened working hours productively, maintain high performance, and continue delivering efficient public services to residents.

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The government noted that the decision was part of its commitment to supporting employees during religious observances, ensuring they can fulfill both spiritual and professional duties without undue strain.

Officials also reminded staff to adhere to workplace regulations and maintain discipline despite the adjusted schedule, emphasizing that public service continuity remains a priority.

This move follows similar initiatives by other states in Nigeria that seek to balance work efficiency with religious observance during Ramadan.

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E‑Transmission Alone Cannot Guarantee Free, Fair Elections – Shehu Sani

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59 minutes ago

February 18, 2026

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Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani

E‑Transmission Alone Cannot Guarantee Free, Fair Elections – Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has warned that electronic transmission (e‑transmission) of election results cannot, by itself, ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria, stressing the need for strong institutions, political will, and proper enforcement of electoral laws.

Sani made the remarks during an appearance on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, where he reacted to the recent amendment of the Electoral Act by the National Assembly. Under the amendment, the Senate approved e‑transmission of results, while retaining manual collation as a backup system, a compromise that has generated widespread public debate.

According to Sani, while e‑transmission technology can improve transparency and accountability, it is not a panacea for electoral malpractice.

“Electronic transfer does not mean that we’re going to have 100% free and fair elections. There is no electoral system that those who intend to rig would not be able to circumvent. Now you have manual voting and electronic transfer of results,” Sani explained.

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He argued that the real determinant of credible elections is the intent and integrity of those managing the process. When authorities are genuinely committed to fairness, elections are credible. However, where manipulation is intended, loopholes will always be exploited.

Sani also highlighted vote-buying and voter inducement as major challenges. He noted that, despite laws against such practices, authorities lack the manpower to monitor every community effectively.

“You can have laws everywhere that voters should not be induced with money or material gifts, they will still do that, and we don’t have the manpower to ensure compliance in every nook and cranny,” he said.

The former lawmaker stressed that meaningful electoral reform must go beyond technology, including:

Political will from leaders to respect electoral outcomes
Strict enforcement of electoral laws
Independent and well-resourced institutions like INEC
Robust voter education and civic engagement

Experts and civil society groups have echoed Sani’s concerns, emphasizing that structural weaknesses, political interference, and poor electoral management remain major obstacles. While e‑transmission can enhance result integrity, it must be part of a comprehensive reform framework addressing all stages of the electoral process — from voter registration to result collation.

Sani’s remarks come amid national discussions on electoral reform and building public trust in Nigeria’s elections, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Trump’s Executive Order Halts US Aid, 250,000 Lives Affected in Yobe

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February 18, 2026

Trends Admin

U.S President Donald Trump

Trump’s Executive Order Halts US Aid, 250,000 Lives Affected in Yobe

The Yobe State Government has revealed that more than 250,000 people in the conflict‑affected north‑east have been severely impacted by the United States’ funding cuts, following an Executive stop‑work order signed by President Donald Trump in 2025. Authorities warn that the withdrawal of support has disrupted essential humanitarian operations, including food security, healthcare, protection services, and education.

Dr Muhammad Goje, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), disclosed the figures during a breakfast show, describing the situation as “deeply concerning” for vulnerable communities. He explained that the United States had been the largest and most consistent donor for over a decade, supporting life-saving assistance in the BAY states — Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.

According to Goje, the suspension of US aid has forced humanitarian agencies to consolidate operations, compete for limited resources, or withdraw entirely. Among the affected are approximately 13,000 out-of-school children, internally displaced persons (IDPs), survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), and other vulnerable populations dependent on healthcare, nutrition, and protection services.

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In 2024, Nigeria’s Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requested US$926.5 million to assist 4.4 million people. About US$556 million was received, with the United States contributing roughly US$316 million, representing 57% of total humanitarian funding — making it the single largest donor. The sudden suspension has therefore created a major funding gap, threatening the continuity of critical programmes.

Dr Goje highlighted that food assistance, previously supporting 65,000 households monthly, has been curtailed following the aid freeze, with over 650 metric tons of food distributed each month by the World Food Programme (WFP) now unavailable. Across the north-east, more than 2,500 humanitarian workers have lost their jobs due to the funding cut, affecting thousands of dependent family members.

Authorities say the state government has begun implementing measures to mitigate the humanitarian impact, including mobilising local resources, improving coordination among agencies, and seeking alternative funding streams. However, officials acknowledge that domestic efforts cannot fully replace international aid, especially amid rising food insecurity, displacement, and health crises in the region.

Experts warn that the suspension of US support comes amid broader global aid reductions, leaving vulnerable populations at risk. Without renewed international assistance, millions of people across north-east Nigeria could face severe hunger, malnutrition, and lack of essential services, further deepening the humanitarian crisis.