Residents lynch “innocent persons” as apprehension over Badoo cult killings heighten in Ikorodu
The recent apprehension – and lynching – of suspected Badoo cult members in Ikorodu area of Lagos has heightened safety concerns among residents.
The police, on Saturday, were said to have rounded up at least 100 persons suspected to be connected with the dreaded group.
Some residents have also begun to mercilessly lynch, without proper verification, any persons who they suspect is a member of the cult group.
“It’s the ugly reality in Ikorodu now,” a resident told Newsroom Nigeria on Monday.
“I witnessed the raid on Saturday. Over 20 police vehicles stormed the communities and rounded up young boys who looked scruffled in appearance or have tattoos.
“One policeman actually said very clearly after two guys luckily escaped that God saved them. He said ‘look at the kind of hair on their heads’,” the resident, who said he knew guys who were arrested while standing in front of their shops, told us.
“Policemen are also harassing innocent persons. An okada rider put up a fight with them one evening as they tried to take him away. It took our intervention for them to let him go after one of them threatened he would shoot him. The police fled when we raced to the okada man’s rescue and one of us claimed his aunty was a lawyer,” he added.
Consequently, residents of various communities in Ikorodu have also begun to attack “any strange faces.”
“Now if one visits a strange area and can’t defend himself, he’ll be beaten, and even worse, lynched,” the resident, who sought anonymity, further told us.
“Ikorodu is very hot now, believe me.”
Reports say over 20 persons have been killed since the first attack by the cult group was recorded.
Police say they have begun screening of all arrested persons to ascertain their level of involvements in the accusations.
