Cultists Pluck Out Diesel Seller’s Eyes, Community Head Calls For Thorough Investigation

Mojisola Lawal
Suspected members of Eiye confraternity waylaid a 31-year old diesel seller simply identified as Michael, hacked him with machetes and plucked out his eyes.

According to an eye witness account, four members of Eiye confraternity namely Aroba Jamiu, Wasiu alias Kemika, Tosin and Hot waylaid Michael on his way to his stall where he sells diesel at the Costain under the bridge on Thursday around 6am.

Giving an account of the attack, an auto mechanic, Ibrahim Sule who has his workshop located under the Costain bridge explained, “I was preparing to change to my mechanic uniform when I heard sound of footsteps of people running and scampering towards the under bridge. The sky was just getting clearer. It was around 6am. I had just finished observing my early morning Muslim prayer. So I leaned towards a trailer that was parked under the bridge to see what was happening.

I then discovered that they were known faces. I saw Michael being chased by four people who are notoriously known as cultists in the community. They wielded machetes and running after Michael. And Michael running as far as his legs could take him was screaming, “Aroba, it’s me! Don’t you recognise me? Wasiu, Ha! This is not fair. What have I done to you?” But as he was shouting and running, they ran after him he was eventually overpowered and they inflicted machete cuts on him. As this was going on, I had hidden behind a trailer parked under the bridge.

I saw how one of the cultists, Wasiu struck Michael with his machete on his head, inflicted several cuts on his face and plucked out his right eye and bruised the other eye while others watch. After the attack, they all fled and left Michael wriggling in pains.

No long after the attack, people started arriving and we took him to Iponri Police where we reported the attack before he was rushed to the emergency section of the General Hospital in Lagos where it was confirmed that Michael has totally gone blind.

Police officers àt Iponri had arrested two of the cultists while two others have fled the community.

It is so unfortunate that such could happen to such an easy going person like Michael. Since he has been selling diesel here, he has never had any quarrel with anyone. He is diligent and gentle. Apart from his diesel work, he also works as a security guard at Tetrazzini. Till now, we are still at a loss as to what his offence was that they had to remove his eyes with machetes.

We now live and trade in fear under the Costain Bridge as the leader of the cult group, Ayo has threatened to make our lives miserable if the police should come after him.”

Reacting, while prompting the police to urgently intervene and bring the perpetrators to justice, Otumara community traditional ruler, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye berates incessant attack of residents by the cultists and calls for thorough investigation inyo the attack.

According to him, cultism is gradually being rooted in Ebute-Meta (west) with Moss Street as the meeting point where cultists gather to hatch their evil plans.

He said, “I was shocked to my bone marrow when some young men visited my office to report the attack to me. Otumara community is gradually declining into a den of cultists. The earlier we nip cultism in the bud the better for us. This cruelty has to stop. Residents in Otumara and indeed across the State can no longer sleep with both eyes closed. They are no longer free to go about their lawful duties without being harassed by the cultists.

From the update I got on Saturday, March 20, I was told the victim, Michael has lost his sight in the attack. He had multiple machete cuts on his head while his right eye was plucked out. This is nothing but evil!

I was told that doctors at the General Hospital, Lagos Island have confirmed that he has totally gone blind.
While I commend the efforts of officers and men at the Iponri police station for effecting the arrest of two out of the four cultists, I want to implore them to ensure that they arrest the other two that are on the run.

I am appealing to the Lagos State government and the police to do whatever they had to do to rid the State off cultists and cult related activities and also set machineries in motion to implement the 21-years jail sentence for cultists and their accomplices.

Cultism shouldn’t be treated with levity. It’s destructive and evil and it should be treated with all seriousness.”

When contacted to confirm the incidence, spokesman of the Lagos State Police command, Muyiwa Adejobi neither responds to calls and messages sent to his line.

Views: 0