Cultists kidnaps former leader for leaving them

Firstclass newsline learnt some suspected cultists have abducted a
former leader of their group, Godwin Victor, akaSangba, in the Akoka
area of Lagos State.
Firstclass newsline learnt from family sources thatSangbawas
kidnapped by cultists, who were his friends and members of the gang he
once led.
The gang members were said to have been displeased with his decision
to quit the group and embrace normal life.
Sangbareportedly left the group due to constant harassment by the
police and for safety concerns.
Firstclass newsline were told that the 30-year-old Akwa Ibom indigene
had recently returned to the community from Port Harcourt, when he was
abducted on Friday.
When our correspondents visited his residence on Solanke Street, they
met his family members who said efforts to find him had proved
abortive, just as his telephone numbers had been switched off.
His wife, Eniola, said her husband had returned from Port Harcourt
where he relocated to due to threats to his life.
She said, "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 the groups agreed to a truce in December last year.
Firstclass newsline was told that a few months after the truce, sanity
returned to the area. But some ofSangba's friends, who were opposed to
the development, attacked him.
Eniola said one of her husband's friends shot him at a party in April,
adding that he narrowly escaped.
"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."
Firstclass newsline learnt that the victim later returned to Lagos on
Wednesday, June 3, 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," Eniola
added.
It was learnt that the victim went to a club on Friday, when the gang
attacked and abducted him.
Another friend, who was with him, Toheeb Akinpelumi, was said to have
been injured before he escaped.
Sangba's mother, Eme, said the family reported the matter at the
Bariga Police Division.
She lamented that her son had yet to be found, urging the kidnappers
to release him.
She said, "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.
"Ade andAnarchylived with me for two years and I fed them.
"After the disagreement started, they chased my son with guns, saying
they would kill him.
"At another time, they came to the house and when they did not meet
him they broke the television and said they would return."
A police source said that the victim was kidnapped byAnarchy, Rotimi,
Lati, Ade and others, who were loyal to late Segun Ogere, akaShaggy.
Shaggywas killed by suspected cultists while returning from a court,
where he was the principal witness, sometime in 2014.
The source said, "We have declared many of them wanted,
especiallyAnarchy.He was responsible for the death of Saka Haruna and
one Idowu, who was shot dead on July 10, 2011. He has killed no fewer
than 11 people in Ilaje community. We are looking for him."
The Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said he would get
back to our correspondents. But he had yet to do so as of the time of
filing this report.
Firstclassnewsline.net