Few days after the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Imohimi Edgal, expressed his fears on the rise of cultism among youths across the Lagos Mainland and other parts of the State, an InsideMainland investigation has uncovered a new cult gang in Agege community, Lagos Mainland.
The new cult confraternity prominent in Agege community is known as ‘Idun’ in local parlance, which translates to bed bugs in English language.
Investigations revealed that the membership of the group include young men of mix educational and social background. The gang comprises secondary school dropouts, illiterate street urchins, and semi-literate folks who often focus on internet fraud with the group offering protection from security operatives.
A source who craved anonymity told Eyes Of Lagos that: “The boys are growing in numbers and operates differently from the popular Awawa Boys and other popular confraternities. They are mostly found in clusters around Pen Cinema, Oke Koto, Oju Irin and often times gather in public places such as football fields, parties or when there is a popular event in the area.”
The source continued that residents would barely know most of the gang members as they only strike when entangled in a brawl with another gang over supremacy. “Because of their numbers, they rarely engage in a clash with other groups. But they often clash with other gangs when there is a supremacy tussle.”
Mode of Operation
A source resident around Capitol road, Agege, Lagos Mainland told Eyes Of Lagos that the Idun gang members strike with swords already soaked in herbal concoctions when engaged in a battle with rival gangs. “They move in numbers of about 10 to 15 mostly. They carry sharp tiny swords safely kept in scabbards or leather when moving around,” the source said.
“The gang members have a penchant for swords whether long or short and would often brag about their bravery in public spaces when trying to prove their mettle. If you are frequent on Agege stadium during popular match days, they often find spaces among football fans to either threaten people or harass whoever comes their way,” the source noted.
Eyes Of Lagos learnt that the gang members usually pounce on their targets beating the victim mercilessly when they chose not to inflict cuts on such persons.
Residents React
Confirming the presence of the gang members in Agege community, a resident said they are mostly youths who might have turned out differently should they have the proper guidance. “I feel most of them might have become better persons if they had adequate guidance from family and society. Mostly, they constitute nuisance when they gather around the community screaming unnecessarily,” the source said.
When contacted on the development, an operative of the Lagos State Police Command promised to get back to our correspondent. The feedback was however not forthcoming as at press time.
