Another ritualists’ den discovered in Lagos

One of the suspected ritualists

• Angry mob kills one, two rescued by police
• Five arrested for allegedly lynching mad men

Another ritualist’s den was yesterday discovered in a tunnel at the Challenge area of Mushin, Lagos State. One of the suspected ritualists was burnt alive, while two others were rescued by the police from being lynched. They had disguised as mad men.

They were found in a tunnel by the bus-stop that leads to a moribund company. Syringes believed to be used in injecting their victims with sedative drugs were discovered in the hideout.

This discovery is coming two weeks after some dens operated by criminals were discovered at different areas of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, which is along the same route.

Head of Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps in Ojuwoye, Mr. Adeleye Olayinka, said two out of the three suspects who appeared like lunatics were sighted around a drainage at Challenge bus-stop area of Mushin.

He said one of the destitute persons was seen trying to enter the drainage by some residents who raised an alarm. They pounced on the three destitute persons before the arrival of policemen.

“In most cases, the place used to smell a lot that people would find it difficult to pass through. One of the supposed mad men was a man who disguised like a lady, but when the mob started beating him, he removed what he used to disguise like a lady and pleaded for mercy.

“Before we knew what was happening, area boys had swooped on them and also threw stones at security personnel who came to the scene to rescue the mad men,” he said.

Meanwhile, five persons have been arrested for allegedly lynching a suspected mad man at Mushin.

The suspects whose identities could not be ascertained as at press time are currently being detained at the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba. It was gathered that the suspect were among those who attacked and killed the suspected mad man.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who addressed newsmen at the Officers Mess, Ikeja, said the suspects had allegedly attacked three persons who appeared to be mentally deranged at Mushin.

He said the three suspected mad persons were earlier seen with items that appeared to be suspicious and that items found on the three persons included a mobile phone, an ATM card and blood stain on the body of one of the suspects.

“On noticing these items, some people attacked the three persons on the ground that they were ritualists. In the process one of the victim was killed. Policemen from Mushin division swiftly moved to the scene and rescued two of the victims. Five persons who participated in the attack have since been arrested. They would be charged to court for murder,” he added.

A visibly angry Owoseni said the command would not tolerate jungle justice in any part of the country, noting that the actions of the suspects were barbaric and would not be swept under the carpet.

He added that the situation where by some group of persons would decide to take laws into their own hands would also not be allowed.