By Ifeoma Ikem
Two men suspected to be members of Aiye Confranternity have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command
while celebrating 7/7 anniversary.
The suspects identified as Bamdele Folabi, 30, a father of two children is an Aluminum fabricator and Chibueze Kizitolo, 23, a 100 Level Mass Communication student of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
It was learnt that the arrested cultists were picked up at Fagba area of Ogba and that they (cultists) celebrated July 7 to mark Aiye confraternity group every year.
The arrest was made possible after CSP Etuk Rambo, OC in charge of Anti-Cultism with his team acted on credible information about their meeting and they were converging to observe their sacred day called the 7th day of the 7 months.
Meanwhile, both suspects have confessed to be members of Aiye confraternity group. Confessing to our correspondent, Folabi claimed that he joined the group in 2017 when he had problems with some persons who had cheated him but had to resort to some extreme measures, joining the cult group to have a revenge.
“When the matter was settled, I felt bad. I told one of my friends about what happened and the way it was handled. He promised me not to worry adding that he would introduce me to a group that would ensure I am not intimidated again.
“Later, he introduced me to Aiye confraternity group where I was initiated the same year in 2017.
Folabi, a father of two kids who felt remorseful, reiterated that the first experience he had was in 2018 that landed him in prison for months, regretting that such incident ought to have taught him a bitter lesson.
“Although I have not be participating in their activities any longer because I have not achieve anytime since I joined, rather, l suffered and lost my hard earned money.
“It was the devil that made me to stop over when I saw the banner of Aiye confraternity posted somewhere in Fagba for celebration of 7/7 anniversary. I decided to greet them where I met one of my old secondary school friends.
“While there, we both exchange greetings and took picture before I left the venue. I was surprised that on the 14th July police came to arrest me in my house that I participated in 7/7 anniversary.
“It was through the picture we snapped that the police traced me to my house after arresting my friend. I am pleading with the authority to help me out.
“I have been to prisons before over the activities of Aiye in 2018 after we had meeting that degenerated into a serious fight leading to police storming the venue and got us arrested while others ran away,” Folabi recounted.
However, Kizitolo, the 100 level mass communication student said he was deceived by his cousin who has travelled out of the country to join the notorious group.
According to him, “I am into entertainment industry and also a musician. I told my cousin the difficulty enlisting into the Nollywood industry and he advised me to belong to any cult groups and it would be easy for me.
“So, last year when I travelled to my state for Christmas celebrations, I identified with Aiye group through a friend and I was initiated. When I came back to Lagos, I also had to identify with the group in my area to enable me join their forum and participate in their activities until 7/7 when a friend invited me to come to Fagba for the anniversary.
“While at the venue, I was arrested by the police,” Kizitolo narrated regrettably.