For the third time in one month (June), the Onyabo Vigilance group in Ikorodu has made a big statement in its resolve to rid the town of cultism and other criminalities with the arrest of yet another set of cult and robbery suspects on Saturday, June 29, 2019.
Among those arrested was a 20 year-old notorious cultist and robber, Shokunbi Elias, an indigene of Ikorodu, who has been unleashing terror and robbing residents of Ikorodu.
He was arrested alongside two of his group members, Lookman Ogunyemi (a.k.a Pencil) and Taye Kasali (aka Iso).
The three suspects were allegedly part of a criminal syndicate who are cultists and robbers with record of killings, robbery and public disturbances.
According to the local security outfit, Elias and his gang, who specialized in robbing people at Ikorodu garage round about, Lagos road axis and other parts of Ikorodu, were nabbed at Phase One Eti-Gutter, a notorious area in the town.
They were paraded on Saturday before a huge crowd at the Onyabo office located along Ireshe road, Ikorodu, before being handed over to the police for prosecution.
Speaking with our reporter, Elias stated that he joined the group in 2016 and that he is always in the team that fight their rival cult group, Axe Confraternity.
“I was arrested with our team that was alleged to have killed one Dayo, popularly known as “Bird”, at Itunmeko.
“I don’t rob but I always follow the team to fight members of the “Aye” (Blackaxe) boys.”
“I am a member of the Eiye Cult group. I joined them in 2016” Elias confessed.
He pleaded with the security team that he would turn a new leaf and go back to his trade if pardoned and released.
“If I am release, I will go back to the work that I learnt.”
Meanwhile, a guy, Lomalami (not real name), who confessed that he used to be a member of the Elias group but that he is not a cult member, spoke with our reporter at the scene where the suspects were paraded.
Lomalami claimed to have operated with Elias before he was arrested and detained at Panti.
“Aye guys always trouble us in Ikorodu and I don’t like it. They usually invaded Ikorodu garage from Ibeshe and Ogijo and are always shouting “Aye” (Axemen) and in the process, they usually rob and shoot at people and thereafter go back to their hideout in Ogijo.
“These guys, including Elias and his team, are the ones disturbing the peace of our town. Even, while I was at Panti, I heard through those that came to join me there that they were still disturbing the peace of our town.
“They (members of Axe Confraternity) would come around and shoot sporadically and flee back to their base in Ogijo.
The self-acclaimed repentant hoodlum, who was aggrieved for always being tagged as a cultist and wrongly accused of committing crimes alongside Elias and others, listed Scorpion, Ade, Tobeeh and Abbey and others as members of the Elias gang that have been unleashing mayhem on Ikorodu and also robbing residents of their possessions.
“I am not a cult member, I am an hustler with Elias and others but I was also always arrested for cultism which I knew nothing about”, he stated.
He also mentioned Lukman Adeyemi (aka Pencil) and Bashorun (not real name) among those that are involved in stealing motorcycles (Okada).
While stating that he still has some information that would assist in unraveling many crimes in Ikorodu, he pleaded with the Onyabo leaders not to release Elias and other suspects arrested.
“When the time comes, I will speak and make some revolutions but it is not yet time for that,” he stated.
“They should not be released they should be allowed to serve their terms in prison to learn some lessons.”
Also at the scene of the parade, a lady, Mrs. Kemi Adebayo who claimed to have been robbed with her husband, Mr. Mutiu Adebayo, earlier in the year, identified Elias as the robber.
These are the same guys who were shouting “Aye” (Axemen) and wielding cutlass and other dangerous weapons. They robbed us at Salvation Army and took possession of my phone.
“The incident happened around 9pm in February after we watched Arsenal match and were on our way home.
“We later met a guy whom we complained to and he told me that it was Elias that robed us. The guy then pursued them to Sabo.
“I later traced him (Elias) to his father’s house and he promised to get my phone for me but till date, I have not gotten the phone back”, she stated.