Six teenage boys – ages ranging from 16 to 14 – have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for alleged involvement in a cult clash on the Lagos Island.
Axes, knives, and machetes were allegedly recovered from the boys, who were arrested around Campos Square, Lagos, while embarking on a reprisal attack on a rival cut.
According to Punch Newspapers, the parents of the boys had no idea that their young children were members of a cult group.
“Their matter has got to the Commissioner of Police. The CP wants us to adopt alternative dispute resolution because the boys are too small to be detained. The parents of the six have been invited and they all claimed that they did not know their children were in a cult. Although the boys were warned and granted bail, they have been given days to come back for inspection.”
The Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the issue, saying that the police had identified the prominent cult group joined by children on the Island as- “Happiness” and “Owonikoko” groups.
“It is a disturbing trend and that is why the police want parents to be vigilant. The children, whose ages ranged from 13 to 15, got involved in street fights and cultism.”
“As a result of their ages, we cannot reveal their identities to the public, but parents must be watchful how children sneak out of their presence, particularly in the evenings. Two groups, which these boys belonged to, have been identified. They are Happiness and Owonikoko groups.”
“Therefore, when parents hear their children mention these names, they should know that their children are referring to cults.”