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| Ibrahim (second left) and other suspects Photo: Olaleye Aluko |
A self-confessed cultist, Muhideen
Ibrahim, who was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, has said he
conveyed guns to the All Progressives Congress campaign venues during
the 2015 electioneering on the Lagos Island.
Ibrahim, 29, from Kwara State, added
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”.
However, the state APC denied knowing
him, adding that Ibrahim could be a mad man. The party advised the
police to bring him to justice.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the Denton Police Division arrested Ibrahim on Tuesday from a hideout in the Ijora Badia area.
It was gathered that a locally-made pistol and two expended cartridges were recovered from him.
Ibrahim, aka Oginni,
had been on the police’s watch list since last year for his alleged
involvement in the murder and violence on the Lagos Island.
It was learnt that 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.
Kolade 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.”
On the other hand, Kolade, who lived on
Kano Street, Oyingbo, told our 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.”
The spokesperson for the All
Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, however, said the
suspect’s 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.”
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