Police demolish shrines used by ritualists, kidnappers in Ikorodu

Rescue couple, arrest priest

The priest

The rescued couple

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, yesterday, led a team of policemen to shrines used by kidnappers and ritualists in Ikorodu area of the state, rescuing an abducted couple and arresting a priest.
At the end of the three-hours exercise, four shrines were destroyed in Imota and Agbowa areas of Ikorodu.

According to a Police source, preliminary investigation showed that the couple was alleged to have been taken to the shrine for treatment of an undisclosed spiritual ailment.
The source added, “the operator of the shrine (priest) was called to hypnotise and keep the woman in the shrine, but was said to have the intention of killing her for ritual when the Police stormed the shrine.”
The raid, as gathered, followed intelligence report that they were used for criminal activities.
Edgal said: “Our crime statistics revealed that records of missing and abducted persons were kept in some shrines in the area
“We discovered that these shrines were been used for ritual purposes and it is possible that they may have been used by the Badoo cult group.
“When I received information about the shrines after I launched Community Policing and Public Partnership in Ikorodu. We investigated and discovered that the shrines were been used for ritual purposes.
“In fact, when we visited one of the shrines, we rescued two victims, who were almost been used for ritual purposes and we also arrested one of the suspects, who has also confessed that the shrines are used for ritual purposes.
“During a town hall meeting in Ikorodu, we were informed of activities of some criminal elements, which prompted the raid. It took us over one hour to trek to one of the shrines in Agbowa.
“The idea is to destroy shrines used for criminal activities, such as kidnapping, ritual killings and fraud.
“Now that they have been destroyed, the crime rate indices in that axis will no doubt reduce. We are going to ensure that hoodlums no longer have a place to take their victims to. All we request from Lagosians is to partner the Police by availing us with information that will help rid the state of criminals.”