The Lagos State Government on Sunday said the state police command had arrested seven suspected cult members, who engaged in a supremacy battle in the Bariga area of the state.

The clash, which occurred on Saturday, led to the killing of a 65-year-old woman.

The deceased, Adejoke Adefuye, was burnt to death after her house on 19, Oshinfolarin Street, Bariga, was set ablaze by the rampaging cults.


 
It was gathered that trouble started when members of Eiye Confraternity, led by one Ibrahim Balogun, engaged another rival cult, Aiye Confraternity, led by a man identified simply as Gideon, in a supremacy fight in the area.

The two grougs were said to have vandalised some vehicles parked by the roadside in the area, while two members of the Aiye Confraternity — Abiye and Daniel — lost their lives in the clash.

A statement on Sunday quoted the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Dolapo Badmus, as confirming the arrest of the cultists, as well as the seizure of some of the weapons used during the bloody clash.

The statement read in part, “Badmus said the second in command of one of the groups was among those arrested, while three power bikes, live and expended cartridges, and a tricycle, popularly known as keke Marwa, used to get to the scene, were confiscated.

“The PPRO said the cult members have been terrorising the area for some days, adding that the police were able to make some arrests due to the quick response to distress calls received concerning the clash.

“Those arrested, according to Badmus, are Afees Fagunwa, Nurudeen Lateef, Richard Ewa, Richard Abayomi, Mohammed Musa, Kayode Dada and Adams Adelakun.”

The statement said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the Gbagada General Hospital for autopsy by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, while other occupants of the burnt building who sustained minor injuries were treated by the Lagos State Ambulance Services.

Badmus was quoted as stating that further investigation into the matter had been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.