Police raid shrine where OPC illegally try suspects in Lagos
The Lagos state police command have arrested three people after destroying a shrine allegedly used by the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) to carry out trial by ordeal on victims.
The shrine, which was situated under the Opebi Link Bridge, off Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, was allegedly used by the local vigilante to torture and extort victims.
Residents say the vigilantes usually open a case file and force victims to own up to crimes they were being tried for.
Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal who led detectives to the place, said three suspects were apprehended, adding that three Point Of Sales (POS) machines, mobile phones and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) cards were recovered.
Edgal said: “Officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corp (LNSC) informed the command of suspicious movement of people in and out of the shrine. On the strength of the information, I directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ikeja to investigate.
“A team of undercover policemen led by the DPO mounted surveillance around the area.
“So yesterday, officials of LNSC saw a man being dragged into the shrine. They were attracted to the place by the screaming they heard coming from the victim.”
