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By Christopher Oji
Suspected cultists, at the weekend, invaded a burial ceremony in the Baga Eriyo area of Ogun State and shot a vigilance member.
Besides the vigilance member that was shot, many people were also injured following the pandemonium that ensued as many scampered for safety.
The attack was allegedly led by a notorious cult leader, Scanley, who has been on the wanted list of policemen from Igode Divisional Police Station. He was said to have invaded the burial ceremony with another member of his gang, James Schoolboy, before reinforcing with more than 20 members of his group.
The vigilance member, who was shot by the cult member, Adekunle Enifeni, while speaking on his experience with the cult member, said he was shot while trying to escape from the gang.
Enifeni said Scanley, Schoolboy, No salary, Spirit, Azeez Parapara, Ayewo and others are already wanted for the killing of another vigilance member in Fakale, around the same community, and went away with his severed hands.
He narrated: “We were having burial prayers for one of my brothers who died in Baga Eriyo when the cult boys came. It was Scanley and Schoolboy that came first. The burial was going on well and when it was time to share food, Scanley began to disrupt the whole programme and Schoolboy joined him.
“The residents of the community came to me to restore peace. I quickly called the DPO of Igode Police Station and he told me that he had sent his boys there. Scanley was disturbing everybody there, threatening to kill them. Schoolboy was also attacking people. Scanley brought out his phone and mobilised other members of the gang to Baga Eriyo.
“Not up to 30 minutes, other members of their gang came on many motorcycles and started shooting indiscriminately. At that point in time, I knew I was not safe again. I tried to rush into the bush and they shot at me, but I escaped into the bush. I ran till some people rescued me and took me to Igode Police Station, where I was given a medical report to go and treat myself. He escaped with other members of the group.
“The police have been looking for Scanley for many crimes he committed in many places. He is a notorious criminal and cult member. He was arrested some months ago, but his Godfather, Sir K, facilitated his release before he could be prosecuted.
“When I came to his community, the CDA and the CDC requested for my services to be guiding their communities. I told them to write a letter to the police and other necessary security agencies and they did, and we set up our security unit in this area. After a few days, Scanley led some cult members to me and threatened that they were in charge of Abatiwa Igode and Baga Eriwo, and that I should not disturb their operation.
“After some months, we arrested one of them for robbery and he was taken away by policemen from Igode Divisional Police Station.
The other members of the gang mobilised themselves and attacked me for facilitating the arrest of one of them.”
The image maker in charge of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said she had not received the report of the attack on the Ogun community.
