Funke Busari, Lagos
A suspected cultist, Muiz Lawal, 21 is now cooling his knees in police custody even as he claimed he has chosen the path of crime to disgrace his grandfather, (names withheld) and to seek power to protect himself from intimidation.
He was among 11 notorious suspected cultists paraded by Lagos State Police Commissioner, CP Hakeem Odumosu at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters early this month.
Lawal alias Intelligent Dove was arrested following violent claahes between rival cult members of Feemen, Kadara and Markets Streets of Denton area of Lagos State where weapons such as battle axe, bottles, cutlasses and knives were freely used to attack and injured one another.
Lawal said he was expelled from United Senior High School, Ayangburen in Ikorodu as ‘King of Boys’ because he would go with his peers to fight from one school to another.
Not appearing to have learnt his lessons, the Police said he was arrested along with others over a supremacy battle between Aiye and Eiye confraternities.
He told CASEFILE that though he works as a butcher just like his grandfather who he accused of not caring for him or allowing him to travel, he said he is all out to ‘spoil’ his name as he mentioned that his grandfather is a chairman of a butchers’ association.
Lawal further stated that he is among the first three ranking officers of his cult group.
Appearing to be in high spirit, the suspected cultist said he wears the honour of the “Intelligent Dove”.
Speaking about his rank and his suspected co-members, “There are three types of Doves. The Intelligent Dove. I secure with my eyes wherever we are, maybe at parties or anywhere.
He explained further: “As an intelligent Dove, anything I see or spy, I inform the chairman. But the one we call the Armoury Dove follows the number one boss to wherever he is going while the Rugged Dove, carries the rifle.
He denied engaging in frequent fights as he stressed that his work as a butcher does not leave him with needed strength to go about fighting because according to him, “I secure with my eyes
“He said he was forced to join a group as he claimed it was the norm in his community to belong to a group for protection, stating further that his brother dragged him into a cult group. When he was asked about the tattoo on his hands and arm, excitedly, he showed a double eight sign on his arm and said he had the tattoo because he is also a DJ. He however noted that trouble came his way because he had lost his father, and his mother had eloped with a lover during his tender age.
Police said the suspected cultist was arrested along with Ibrahim Yahaya ‘m’ 36 years old; John Olorunwa ‘m’ 23 years old; Ayo Ogunshe ‘m’ 17 years old; Rilwan Fukunle ‘m’ 21 years old; Fatai Akanbi ‘m’ 22 years old; Kazeem Fatai ‘m’ 23 years old; Samuel Adeyemi ‘m’ 26 years old; Khalifa Babatunde ‘m’ 27 years old; Kehinde Oladapo ‘m’ 23 years old; and Mubarak Alate ‘m’ 23 years old.
