No fewer than 46 suspects, comprising 40 men and 6 ladies were on Saturday arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Timothy Ojetunde.
The suspects alleged to be members of a dreaded Confraternity, ‘Awawa’, were apprehended on Lateef Jakande Road, Agindigbi, Ogba and Agege, Lagos state after the RRS received a distress call that the suspected cultists were snatching belongings and maiming people.
The suspects between 15 to 22 years of age, allegedly attacked the policemen with bottles and stones when they attempted to arrest them.
Some of the 46 arrested and taken to RRS headquarters in Alausa, allegedly threatened the police.
As stated by them, “No one can arrest us and go scot-free.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Dolapo Badmus, who confirmed the arrest and paraded the suspects before newsmen, described the Awawa Confraternity as a violent group whose activities were under the close watch of the police.
Badmus said, “The state will not condone their activities. They are threatening the peace in the city. We are after them.
“Their ficiers and leaders are our targets; with those in our dragnet, the tide is against them.
“The suspects have been handed over to Environmental Task Force, Alausa for prosecution.”
The PPRO recalled that a week ago, the RRS also arrested 15 Awawa cult members at their hideouts at Agege.
“After receiving a series of reports, RRS put surveillance teams in place to monitor the activities of the group at Agege, Ogba, Ifako-Ijaiye, Iyana-Ipaja and Abule-Egba.
“The investigations have revealed that the Awawa Confraternity is a fearless cult group, terrorising people living in Agege and Ikeja axis.
“Investigations further showed that the Awawa members move in hundreds, committing all manners of atrocities on their way.
“Apart from incessant complaints from residents which we received on daily basis, alleging that the group was making life difficult for them, they were equally accused of raping, looting, snatching and dispossessing law-abiding citizens of their belongings,” the PPRO stated.
Meanwhile, one of the arrested suspects simply identified as Lukmon confessed, saying, “They promised me that I would have free access to girls who are members of the group and that is why most of the male members joined.”
Lukmon said, “Also, I decided to join the Awawa Confraternity because I wanted to be very powerful among my peers.
“One thing is certain, once you join the group, it would be very difficult to leave, and you must also be part of their operations anytime they set out.
“We loot, rape and rob innocent members of public every time we go for operations. We don’t fear anybody even police because we are always in hundreds,” Lukmon added.