The newly created, ‘Police Special
Strike Force on Social Miscreants’ in Lagos State, has arrested the Supreme
cult leader of Berry Boys’ gang.
According to the Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, the suspect, Maliki Bello (22),
joined the cult group when he was in Junior Secondary School (JSS3). He was then
just 12 years old. He rose through the ranks to become the supreme leader of
the gang.
Elkana explained that on February 4, at
about 7:20pm, following a sustained monitoring, Operatives from Itire Police
Station, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), a Superintendent of Police
(SP), Barkfur Kromkyes, arrested Bello and 11 others.
Elkana said: “Maliki is the supreme
leader of the notorious Berry Boys Secret Cult with operational base at Itire.
He is a native of Lalopun, Kwara State but resides at 23 Ayinla Street,
Idiaraba area of Lagos State. Maliki has been on Police Wanted List for violent
crimes and gang clashes. The suspect confessed to be responsible for series of
violent attacks, murders and armed robberies incidents recorded in Idiaraba,
Lawanson, Dosunmu, Ashimowo Bakare, Omo-Bola Mushin and Itire.
“The suspect told detectives that, he
was initiated into the cult at age 12 when he was in Junior Secondary School
(JSS1). He later rose to the number one position, mostly addressed as the
supreme leader of the Berry Boys Confraternity. The gang has an official
Facebook Page (Bbl Baloteli) with 1,928 friends. According to Maliki, they use
the Facebook page and other social media accounts to recruit new members, plan
attacks and give updates to members.”
Elkana further disclosed that investigation
led to the arrest of 11 additional suspects.
The image maker noted that the Lagos
State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has further reaffirmed the
commitment of the Command to address the menace of cultism and gangsters in
Lagos State.
“The onslaught on social miscreants
launched by the Commissioner of Police is intelligence driven, targeting mostly
the leaders of the gangs and cult groups and blocking the channels through
which they recruit young people. The Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants
has successfully brought under control the activities of various cults and
gangs in the state through well-coordinated and targeted operations. The
onslaught will be sustained until they are totally defeated,” said Elkana.
The Command, in another development on
February 2, at about 5:30pm, arrested a husband that attempted to kill his
wife.
Elkana said that Operatives from Bariga
Police Station arrested Christopher Lament (45) at No 23 Jossy Castro Street,
Lagos, for attempting to kill his wife, Comfort Christopher with a knife.
Elkana said that Comfort was rescued by
the Police following a distress call received.
He added: “The knife was recovered and
registered as exhibit. The couple has been married for 13 years. They have two
children, between ages 11 and nine. Both are from Akwa Ibom State. The Christopher
lost his banking job five years ago and the Comfort too is out of job. The
couple had been having series of crisis, especially finance. The event that led
to the attempt by the suspect to stab his wife with a knife, started with a
mere argument. Investigation is on-going and the suspect will be charged to court.”
Also, a teenager was arrested by a patrol
team at Third Mainland Bridge for shop breaking and stealing. This happened on
February 6, at about 7:15am. Police from Bariga Police Station received
information that a shop, belonging to Faruk Nobi of No 287 Boboreji Market
Lagos Island was being burgled. The suspect, Isiaka Olalekan, 19, was intercepted
by Policemen patrolling the Third Mainland Bridge.
Elkana noted: “Four different types of
expensive mobile phones and shop breaking implements were recovered from the
suspect. The suspect, who turns out to be the new employee of the complainant,
confessed to have stolen the phones from his boss’s shop. The suspect will be
charged to court. The Police team on the Third Mainland Bridge was deployed by
the CP as part of the Command's measures to curb traffic robbery and prevent
suicide.”
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