Ibrahim (second left) and other suspects Photo: Olaleye Aluko
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old Kwara State self-confessed cultist identified as Muhideen Ibrahim who confessed said he conveyed guns to the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign venues during the 2015 electioneering on the Lagos Island.
Ibrahim disclosed that he took two pump-action rifles to the governorship primaries held at the Tafawa Balewa Square in the Onikan area for the 'protection of my gang’s candidate'.
The spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, denied knowing him, adding that Ibrahim could be a mad man, and that mental state should be examined, adding that the party did not breed hoodlums.
He said, "We do not know this hoodlum. We do not know what he is talking about. We do not know whether he is a mad man. You also do not know his mental state. Let the suspect face the law. We are not part of this. Our party is not made up of hoodlums.
"Did he show you his APC membership card? He has to produce a proof of membership. Please, ignore that man."
According to Punch Metro, the Denton Police Division arrested Ibrahim on Tuesday from a hideout in the Ijora Badia area. A locally-made pistol and two expended cartridges were recovered from him.
It was learnt that Ibrahim, aka Oginni, had been on the police’s watch list since last year for his alleged involvement in murder and violence on the Lagos Island.
Another suspected cultist, Sodiq Kolade, had earlier been arrested by the police for alleged possession of guns. He was said to have denied the allegation, but confessed that he knew those who had guns. He was said to have led the police to Ibrahim’s hideout where he was arrested.
Speaking with Punch Metro, Ibrahim, who confessed that he joined the Eiye Confraternity in 2007, said the guns his gang took to campaign venues were not for violence, but for protection of their governorship candidate.
He said, "I live in the Ijora Badia area, and I am known as Oginni. One of the boys in the area, Sodiq (Kolade) was the one who brought policemen to my house. I had a friend called Dagbe, and he lived with me in Ijora.
"He and I belonged to the same gang. During the last general elections in the Onike, Yaba area, we had guns. Anytime there was campaign on the island, they would contact me and other members of my group. We belonged to the APC. In the governorship primaries, we had our candidate.
"Dagbe had two pump-action guns. I conveyed guns to campaign venues three times. It was not for violence. It was just to protect ourselves and our candidate. I was paid N5,000 for each trip.
“I joined the Eiye Confraternity in 2007. The person who initiated me has travelled. He is now in Malaysia. His name is Sammy. So, we used the guns to only protect our candidate. I still belong to the party. I work at the council level to collect tolls from okada and Keke Napep riders in Ijora."
Kolade, who lived on Kano Street, Oyingbo, on the other hand, told a correspondent that he led policemen to Ibrahim’s hideout when the policemen insisted that he (Kolade) had guns.
He said, "I know Oginni because he used to move with my elder brothers. When the police arrested me, they insisted that I had guns. I told them I did not have guns, but I could take them to someone who had guns. So, I took them to Oginni’s place. I belong to Dagbe and Soko’s boys."
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the command would not relent in ridding the state of criminals.
He said, "He is one of the leaders of a notorious cult in Ebute-Meta. He and six others were nabbed by the police. Some are still on the run, but they will be arrested too."