NO fewer than 46 members of Awawa confraternity, in Agege and environs, were arrested by operatives of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of Lagos State Police Command, weekend. The suspects were arrested in the early hours of Saturday along Agindigbi Road, Ikeja and Agege, in an operation that lasted about three hours.
The operation was led by the Assistant Superintendent of Police Timothy Ojetunde, acting on tip-off from victims of the group along Agidingbi, Agege and Ogba areas. Commander, RRS, Assistant Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu, who confirmed the arrest, said: “Apart from incessant complaints from the residents alleging that some group of young boys and girls aged between 15 and 22, were making lives difficult for residents, they equally rape, loot, snatch and dispossess law-abiding citizens of their belongings.
“During their recent attack along Agidingbi Road, we were able to arrest 46 of them, including six female, while others manage to escape. Before we made the arrests, they engaged us in a fight, throwing stones and broken bottles at us.
“On arrival at the RRS Headquarters, the suspects were still raging, saying no one can arrest them and go scot free. They threatened that if we do not let them go, their colleagues who are yet to be arrested, would besiege our base the following day and set them free.”
Meanwhile, some of them said they were lured into the dreaded cult group through peer group influence, with one of them saying “I was forced to join them with a promise that I would be very powerful among my peers. They promised me that I would have free access to girls, who are members of the group.”
Lukmon Arowoseni, one of the arrested suspects said: “One thing is certain, once you join the group, it would be very difficult to dissociate yourself again. And you must also be part of their proceedings and operations any time they are set to go out.
“We loot, rape and rob innocent members of public each and every time we are operating. We do not fear anybody, even police, because we are always in hundreds.”
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, said that Awawa cult group is a violent group, adding “we are after them. Their financiers and leaders are our targets; with those in our dragnet, the tide is against them.” Vanguard
