Police uncover Badoo oath taking shrine in Ogun
MACBAN alleges silent killing of herders in Numan
The Lagos State Police Command yesterday uncovered a shrine at Ayegbami quarters, Imosan in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, where suspected badoo cult members take oath before going on operations.
The shrine was discovered in an operation carried out by the command, SARS and the Lagos State taskforce Fulani herders have alleged silent killing of their displaced kith and kin who are returning to their homes in Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Normalcy is returning to Numan and Demsa after communal crisis between Bachama and Fulani that claimed scores of lives.
Tension had been high since the killing of at least 55 Fulani women and children in the area about two months ago which resulted in reprisal attack on Bachama villages that claimed dozens of lives. officers following an arrest of some suspected badoo cult members.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, who led the operation, said the kingpin of the notorious cult group was arrested while trying to escape through the waterways.
“All other suspects are in custody and in a confessional statement, one of the suspects described this
The North East Leader of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mafindi Danburan, who spoke yesterday during a meeting of an umbrella group of Fulani herders, Mobgal Hore FulbeNigeria, said more than 4000 Fulani were displaced from the area following attacks on their communities.
He alleged continued targeting of returnees as well as cattle rustling by Bachama people in Numan and Demsa local areas, calling on government and security agencies to protect the people. shrine as the place where the suspects come before going on operation. This is the piece of stone which they use and according to the suspect, there is no operation which they go for without first coming here to take oath.
The owner of the shrine will immediately be placed on arrest and the shrine will be destroyed,” he said.
The owner of the shrine, one Fatai Adebayo, 34, admitted owning the shrine
“The latest is the abduction and killing of three of our youths on transit by the Bachama militia who disguised as vigilantes,” he stated, adding, “We are citizens of Numan and are set to return to our villages along the river banks. We need security protection and the immediate disbandment of vigilante groups,” Danburam said.
He criticized Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, for not visiting affected Fulani settlements during their respective visits but described the piece of stone discovered there as a mere grinding stone.
Adebayo’s mother, one Toyin Ogunyemi, who was also at the scene, said her son was not involved in any ritual killing but only prescribed traditional healing drugs.
His Royal Highness, the Olumosan, Chief Tajudeen Adekunle Muili, also condemned the discovery and ordered that the shrine be destroyed. (NAN) to Bachama communities.
In their separate speeches at the meeting, the Adamawa chapter chairman of MACBAN, Ja’oji Isa and that of Tabital Pulaaku, Abdu Bali, advised the Federal Government to take adequate measures to prevent escalation.
The police had on Sunday confirmed arrest of two Bachama men in Numan over abduction and alleged killing of a Hausa traditional barber.
The police spokesman, DSP Othman Abubakar said the two suspects were in police custody despite attempt by youths to prevent the arrest.