Oriokuta village in Imota, a suburb of Ikorudu, Lagos State is experiencing relative peace.
The village, which is gradually becoming a town due to the influx of people from the Lagos Mainland and Island, is fast developing into an agrarian community.
Sadly, the once peaceful community situated along the ikorodu/Ijebu Ode Road has become a base of litigation and cultism.
It was gathered that in December 2012, like in other areas of Lagos State, residents of Oriokuta held their annual carnival.
It was at the carnival that a young man, identified as Saka Abudua, was killed by suspected cultists.
Residents said Abudua was allegedly shot in the head at about 1am by an alleged cultist, simply identified as Hakeem, but popularly known as Spirit.
Lagbon, a resident, said: “Immediately Hakeem of Eiye confraternity shot Saka, a leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress called Azeez saw him and beckoned on other OPC members but before they could hand over Hakeem to the police, Hakeem’s gang members overpowered Azeez.
“The next thing we knew, the Eiye cult members marched into the community singing war song and claiming it was the OPC members that shot and killed Saka.
“They showed a gun to some people.
“They alleged the gun was used by Azeez to shoot Saka.
“Later, Hakeem handed over the gun to a policeman identified as Jamiu Sadiku, who is attached to the Imota Police Station.
“As if this was not enough, the rampaging Eiye cult members, led by their number one and who also claims to be the youth leader, vandalised vehicles, homes robbed and raped women.
“They marched on to the house of the OPC leader, one Abiodun Akerejola, at Imota and vandalised his vehicles.
“Abiodun escaped with his family to the Imota Police Station where he sought refuge.”
It was gathered that another victim, Lasisi Idowu, was not that lucky as he had one of his eyes removed by the rampaging cultists.
Also, the suspected cultists allegedly burnt one Madam Tawa Bello’s house at Toopo Street and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
Another source added: “Before the police could arrive, the cultists had disapeared.
“The policeman, who the cultist Hakeem Spirit surrendered his gun to later claimed he did not know who gave him the gun.”
Saka’s corpse is still in the morgue .
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department at Panti, Yaba.
It was gathered that following the constant visit of the cultists, one John Aimofunmeh on January 2, 2013 on behalf of the community wrote a petition to the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, “D” Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The petition was titled: “Conspiracy, murder and armed robbery.”
In the petition, Aimofunmeh said on December 27, 2012, he received a phone call that some gunmen had invaded the community and had shot somebody dead.
He said in the petition that when he got to the scene of the incident, he met the lifeless body of the victim on the ground.
“On inquiry, he was informed that the assailants were boys from the community and other neighbouring communities.
While the petitioner and others were making arrangements to take the corpse away, the gunmen came back shooting sporadically, breaking doors and looting.
In the process, some residents were injured.
It was the police that later came and took away the body to the mortuary, the petitioner said.
In the petition, those who took part in the shooting were identified as one Sikiru, who is the youth leader and the leader of the Eiye cult in Imota.
Hakeem Spirit was identified as the hatchet man of the confraternity.
Others identified included one Abbey, also known as Confirm, and Yakubu, aka Boko Haram.
The residents are living in fear despite the police presence.
The source said: “The police came and made arrest and they are patrolling the area.
“Also, the Lagos State Police Command has declared some of them wanted for murder and robbery.
“They include Tolu, aka T Boy, one English and one Afilo.
“They have all relocated to Somolu area in Lagos State ever since.
“The officers from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other security agencies have been looking for them.
They were all sighted at Majiyagbe area in Somolu and Odunlade/Ajose in company of other hoodlums.”
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