I joined Aiye Cult because I was hungry – Suspect

A suspect, Salisu Imam, has blamed unemployment for his involvement in cult-related activities.

He stated that he was lured into cultism by one of  his unnamed friends, who, he said, told him that membership of a cult would guarantee him daily meals.

Speaking after being paraded by the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olusola Amore, on Thursday in Ilorin, Imam said he fell for the bait because he had no job and was always hungry.

He said, “I was jobless and so hungry. One of my friends told me to join the Aiye cult group, that once I am a member, my daily meals are guaranteed. These friends have been taking care of me before they introduced me to cultism and I was left with no option but to play along with them.”

The CP said following the aftermath of cult killings that took place in Ilorin metropolis and the determination of the command to arrest the culprits, three suspects, Ibrahim Imam, Salisudeen Imam and Saheed Mubaraq were nabbed.

He stated that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of Eiye and Aiye confraternities.

He added that they also confessed to have been involved in series of attacks that took place in Ilorin, adding that three live cartridges and charms were recovered from the suspects.

Amore also said the command apprehended Wasiu Sodiq for alleged criminal conspiracy, disturbance of public peace and being a member of a secret cult.

He said the police responded to a distress call that some hoodlums had invaded Laduba area of Ilorin and were shooting into the air.

He stated that the police arrested Sodiq while a search conducted on him led to the recovery of a locally-made pistol and expended cartridges.

Italian Police arrest 20 Nigerian Members of Notorious Black Axe Cult.

Italian police have arrested as many as 20 members of the Nigerian Black Axe gang in a series of raids, it was reported on Saturday (19 November). The gang members stand accused of a number of crimes ranging from protection rackets to human trafficking.

 

The operation comes as part of a co-ordinated effort by Italian authorities to control organised crime in the country, and was organised by a crack team in Sicily’s capital of Palermo. The arrests were apparently enabled by an informer spoke to Italian police of the identities of senior members.

 

The gang derive their name because they are banned by “superior” Mafiosi from carrying guns and therefore use axes and machetes to deal with grievances, predominantly deal drugs imported by Italian mafia.

 

The gang, originally from Nigeria, has been linked to high levels of migration into Italy from North Africa who are then thought to have forged links with Italy’s Costa Nostra – the Sicilian Mafia.

 

According to reports, somewhere between 17 and 20 members of the gang are thought to have been arrested.

 

The Black Axe gang are said to be a splinter group of Nigeria’s Neo-Black Movement of Africa. The group originates from a student fraternity from the University of Benin (Uniben)

 

The emergence of Nigerian gangs was highlighted in a letter sent to Italian prosecutors by the Nigerian ambassador to Rome in 2011. In the letter, he wrote: “I would like to draw your attention to the new criminal activity of a group of Nigerians belonging to secret societies.

 

“Unfortunately, former members of these sects were able to get into Italy where they re-established their criminal organisations.”

 

Earlier this year, Palermo’s deputy chief prosecutor confirmed to the Guardian that the presence of North African migrants in Italy was changing organised crime considerably. “The neighbourhoods under mafia control have changed profoundly in recent years due to the growing presence of foreigners, especially Nigerians coming on boats.

 

“Among them there [are a small number] of people who want to transfer their illegal trafficking, linking to prostitution and drug dealing to Sicily. And the mafia was quite happy to integrate them into their criminal business.”