Lagos Cultists Abduct Their Former Leader

Godwin Victor

Some suspected cultists have abducted Godwin Victor (aka Sangba), a former leader of their group, in the Akoka area of Lagos state.

According to family sources, Sangba was kidnapped by cultists, who were his friends and members of the gang he once led. The gang members were allegedly dissatisfied with his decision to leave the group and embrace normal life.

The source revealed that Sangba quit the group due to constant harassment by the police and for safety concerns.

The Punch has gathered that the 30-year-old Akwa Ibom indigene had recently returned to the community from Port Harcourt, when he was abducted on June 5, Friday.

Sangba’s wife, Eniola, said that her husband had returned from Port Harcourt because of numerous threats to his life.

My husband is very popular in this community. Because of that, whenever there was a fight involving his friends and people’s property were destroyed, the police would arrest him.

“He became unhappy with the bad name they were giving him, and he called them and said he wanted to quit street fighting. He met other cult groups and appealed to them to embrace peace and lay down their weapons,” she said.

Eniola added that the groups agreed to a truce in December 2014; and a few months after, sanity returned to the area. However, some of Sangba’s friends, who were opposed to the development, attacked the man, who miraculously escaped death.

“From that time, he stopped coming to the house and started lodging in a hotel nearby. When the stress became too much for him, he decided to relocate to Port Harcourt. While he was away, there was another bloody clash in Bajulaiye and Ebute; two people were killed. When he heard, he was disturbed and told his friends to stop the fighting. He wondered what they were fighting for,” Eniola said.

On June 3, the victim reportedly returned to Lagos to look after his family and perfect plans to travel outside the country.

“When he arrived, he called one of those boys, who he trusted, and told him that he only came to get his travelling documents,” the wife added.

It was gathered that Sangba went to a club on June 5, when the gang attacked and abducted him.

The victim’s mother, Eme, said the family reported the matter at the Bariga police division.

“Since they kidnapped him on Friday, his phone numbers have been switched off. I have not been able to eat. He is my source of happiness and joy. I appeal to his friends, Anarchy, Ade and others, to release him. If he offended them, they should forgive him,” the aggrieved mother lamented.

According to police source, the victim was kidnapped by cult members who were loyal to late Segun Ogere, aka Shaggy. He was reportedly killed by suspected cultists while he was returning from a court, where he was the principal witness.