Lagos Gang Violence: Alleged Aiye Kingpin Implicates Himself in String of Murders

Emmanuel Nwokolo, a suspected cult leader, has been apprehended by the police in connection with a series of violent clashes in Ajangbadi and neighbouring communities in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, and he has confessed to being involved in multiple killings in the area.

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The Ajangbadi, Shibiri and Ilogbo axis has a long history of recurring rival cult clashes and reprisal attacks, with residents often linking periodic spikes in violence to symbolic dates such as May 5, June 6, and July 7, when supremacy battles between rival groups are believed to intensify.

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Nwokolo, who has been identified by the police as the chairman of Aiye Confraternity, was arrested alongside Ayoola Israel, Ebuka Nnamdi, and Chinedu Okafor during a coordinated operation by the Lagos State Police Command Tactical Squad in Ajangbadi, which was carried out on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani.

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The operation was part of a wider crackdown on violent cult groups terrorising parts of Ojo Local Government Area, and several other suspects, including David, Emma, Paragon, Fela, Santa, and “Awilo”, are reportedly on the run.

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According to investigators, Nwokolo’s gang has been linked to more than 10 killings across the affected communities, and during interrogation, Nwokolo allegedly admitted to participating in the killing of four persons, all of whom were said to be members of rival cult groups.

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A police source at the Ijanikin Tactical Squad, who spoke in confidence, revealed that the operation followed intelligence-led tracking of suspects connected with repeated attacks in the area, and detectives analysed patterns from previous crime scenes before tracing Nwokolo to a hotel in Ajangbadi, where he was arrested alongside another suspect.

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The arrest reportedly led to the apprehension of two others alleged to be armourers for the gang, and firearms and ammunition believed to have been hidden after the arrest of the principal suspect were also recovered.

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Nwokolo admitted that he was a cult member and narrated how he was initiated and how rival members were allegedly targeted, stating that he was introduced to the Aiye Confraternity by his friend, Hurry, who is now late.

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Nwokolo said, “Yes, I am a member of the Aiye cult group, I am into internet business, and I was told to join the NBM if I wanted to make it in life, but I have not seen any improvement since I joined.

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He also stated, “I only participated in the killing of four people, the first was Soweto, a member of the Eiye Confraternity, we lured him under the pretence of buying hard drugs, and four of us, Emma, Paragon, Santa, and myself, carried out the operation.

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Ayoola Israel, one of the arrested suspects, said he only kept firearms and ammunition for the group and did not participate in any killings, claiming he was initiated with promises of influence and connections.

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Israel, a 39-year-old fisherman, said, “I am not one of the leaders of the gang, I only helped to keep the guns and bullets for the group, and I was forced to keep the guns and bullets by one of the leaders, Emma.

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Ebuka Nnamdi, a warehouse worker at Alaba International Market, also admitted being a member of the group but denied involvement in any killings, saying he only helped to keep weapons.

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Chinedu Okafor, a trader, said he was initiated while visiting relatives in Owerri, Imo State, describing his recruitment as unplanned.

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The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the recovery of two locally made pistols, one revolver pistol, and 13 live cartridges from the suspects, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, described the arrests as a major breakthrough in the fight against cult-related killings in the state.

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CP Fatai Tijani said, “We are on the trail of other members of the gang, and Lagos will not be a safe haven for cultists and violent criminals,” commending the Ijanikin Tactical Squad for what he described as a major disruption of cult networks operating in Ajangbadi, Shibiri and Ilogbo.