Emmanuel Nwokolo, the suspected leader of a cult group who was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, has said the k!llings allegedly carried out by his group left him haunted and unable to sleep.
Speaking to journalists, Nwokolo, said he joined the group after being promised a better life.
“It is true that I am a member of the Aiye cult group. My name is Emmanuel Nwokolo. I am into internet business. I was introduced to the Aiye Confraternity by one of my friends, Hurry, who is now late,” he said.
“I am into internet fraud, though not really fraud. I met Hurry during a visit to one of my friend’s places on Lagos Island about three years ago.
“We became close and maintained the relationship after I returned to my base. It was just casual friendship then; I was not a member of any cult group.
“After some time, he told me I should join the Aiye cult group because I was handsome. He told me that if I wanted to succeed and improve my life, I should join NBM (Aiye), but I have not seen any improvement since joining them.
Reacting to allegations that his gang k!lled more than 10 people in Shibiri, Ajangbadi and Ilogbo, Emmanuel said: “I only participated in the killing of four people. The four people I know were members of rival cult groups in our area.
“The first person we k!lled was Soweto, a member of the Eiye Confraternity, who also had a gun.
“Emma, one of our members, told us he had sighted Soweto where he was sitting. He also said Soweto had once chased him with a gun. David said he was on a motorbike when he saw Soweto.
“We lured him to a place after lying to him that we wanted to buy hard drugs because he was involved in that business.
“Four of us — Emma, Paragon, Santa and myself — carried out the operation. I was the one recording. There was another person we k!lled because his group, Aro Berger, formed an alliance with the Eiye Confraternity to fight us.
“The Eiye Confraternity is our major rival in the area. It was Emma who pointed him out before we k!lled him.
“The third person was an Eiye member named Bisi, who was also involved in selling hard drugs. David identified him, and our leader, AB, aka Awilo, led us to where he was sighted and we k!lled him.
“Emma and David are the most active members of our group. They identified the people to be k!lled. I only followed them to k!ll four people.
“The only thing I did during those k!llings was record the process.
“Whenever my group k!lled any rival member, I couldn’t sleep in my house for days. The memories brought fear and restlessness. It affected me emotionally.”
Police alleged that Nwokolo and other suspects were involved in cult-related violence that terrorised residents of Ajangbadi, Shibiri, Ishashi and Ilogbo communities.
Two other suspects, Israel Ayoola and Ebuka Nnamdi, claimed they were lured into cultism by promises of influence, protection and social connections.
Confirming the arrests, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said investigations linked the suspects to several violent crimes in the area.
She disclosed that a video recovered from one suspect’s phone allegedly showed the k!lling of unidentified persons in Ajangbadi and neighbouring communities.
According to her, the suspects confessed to membership of the Aiye Confraternity and involvement in multiple k!llings and other criminal activities.
Police also recovered three firearms — two locally made pistols and a revolver — as well as 13 live cartridges during the operation.
Further investigation is ongoing.