Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, has ordered the destruction of a shrine located under the Opebi link bridge in Ikeja, Lagos, allegedly belonging to suspected members of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC).
ShrineEdgal, who led detectives to the shrine yesterday, said that the operators of the shrine carry out trial by ordeal on those arrested.
According to him, going by the items found in the shrine, some of the victims were tortured to force them to own up to a crime they were being tried for.
He said that three persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the activities around the shrine, while three POS machines allegedly being used to extort money from victims were recovered.
Aside from the POS machines, other items found at the shrine included mobile telephone sets and ATM cards belonging to some victims.
Addressing the media at the scene, Edgar said that some officials of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Security and Safety Corps (LSNSC) had informed the command of the suspicious activities of people in and out of the shrine.
He said that, based on the strength of the information, he directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ikeja Division to investigate.
He said: “Based on the directive, a team of undercover policemen, led by the DPO, mounted surveillance around the area. So, yesterday, officials of the Neighbourhood Security Safety Corps saw a man who was being dragged into the shrine. They were attracted to the place by the screaming coming from the victim.
They quickly informed the DPO who moved his men to the scene, where three persons were arrested and the victim rescued.
“Inasmuch as we believe in community policing and community partnership, but let me sound a note of warning to any group of persons who may want to take the law into their hands that the command will deal decisively with members of such groups.
“Members of OPC have been helpful to the command in the past. We see them as partners. But some persons, under the guise of OPC, have erected an office under the Opebi link bridge, where they take people to try them by ordeal.
They also have a shrine here where they take victims to. I believe that they force victim’s to take the oath. We will not tolerate this in any part of the state.”
