Herbalist’s charm made me invincible to bullets – Suspected cult leader

The Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Andrew Awalebi, a suspected leader of the Eiye Confraternity. The 35-year-old suspect was arrested on Friday at a bar in Jakande Estate in the Ajah area of the state and was paraded before newsmen on Sunday, Daily Post
reports.

Awelabi was arrested alongside three other suspected members of his gang: Daniel Olayiwola, 36, Tosin Issac, 26 and Koffi Kwame, 17, when the police swooped on them at about 8am.

A member of the gang, Michael Thompson, who had earlier been arrested for robbery at the National Stadium, Surulere area of the state, was said to have tipped off the RRS operatives on Awalebi’s movements.

Thompson said Awalebi was the leader of the group.

Awelabi, in his confession, said he worked for a popular landowner in the Lekki area, adding that he earned N40, 000 monthly for securing the landed property of his boss.

He told operatives of that no amount of bullets can pierce through his body, that a charm he got from a herbalist made him to be invincible to bullets.

He explained that his protective charm against gunshots was prepared for him by the herbalist in the Ijebu-Isiwo area of Ogun State, adding that the charm was to save him from gunshots of land grabbers in Lekki.

Awelabi, indigene of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State told newsmen, “I was initiated into the Eiye Confraternity in 1996 by one Banji. Later in 1997, I was promoted as its topmost leader after the death of Banji. We were eight members in the cult group. We meet very early in the morning or late at night.

“I was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad when my cult group caused mayhem in Jakande Estate, inflicting injuries on passersby in the area,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the arrests, said the suspects confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity.

Badmos said the suspects had been transferred to the Lagos State Department of Criminal Investigation, SDCI, for prosecution and appealed to parents and guardians to help the police fight cultism.

She said, “Parents should help the police to tackle cultism by properly monitoring the activities of their children. They should also report to the nearest police station if they suspect any unwholesome attitude of any friend of their children. This will help the police to nip cultism in the bud.”