Cultist clash: 35-year-old pregnant mother killed by stray bullet

Etim Ekpimah

A 35-year-old pregnant mother of two, Sikirat Saliman was killed at Aleke Town near Caleb University when two rival cults, Eiye and Aiye clashed.

The deceased was said to have been caught in the web of the hoodlums’ fire power when she was returning home from the market.

It was learnt that the hoodlums in their hundreds arrived the area around 7:30pm and started firing gunfire around the market square and beyond.

The younger brother to the deceased, Babatunde Saliman, who spoke with our correspondent on Friday, said their aged mother depended solely on her.

He called on security agency to investigate and ensure that perpetrators of the evil act that took the life of his sister, were brought to justice.

“I just came back from my workplace and as I entered my house, my mobile phone started ringing, and when answered the call, the caller told me that my elder sister has been shot and killed by the hoodlums.

“The caller told me that the guys came to the market in the evening around 7:30pm and started shooting in every direction; eventually the bullet hit her at the back.

“I quickly rushed to the market and when I got there, I met her lying in a pool of blood. Some of her friends, who came to the scene, said that she is pregnant.

“All I know is that her corpse has been taken to the mortuary at Ikorodu General Hospital. We are planning to take her back to our hometown.

The Baale of Alake, Chief Adeniyi Okemati, corroborated the accounts of the hoodlums invading the community.

He appealed to the Lagos state government to intervene as a matter of urgency for the safety of lives and property in the community.

“I don’t know the hoodlums, who came to our community. In fact, I don’t know why they came and be terrorising our people. During the shooting they killed a pregnant woman and left immediately.

“When I saw what was going on, I called the police but before their arrival, those boys have gone. The police took her corpse to the mortuary at the Ikorodu General Hospital. None of the hoodlums were arrested thereafter.

“I called on all the residents to collaborate together and work as a team to manage the insecurity which has now become the common facet of our community.

“We still need the assistant of the Lagos State Government to enable us to collectively curb the menace of these people and sleep with our two eyes closed,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the killing and the cults clash, said normalcy has been restored to the area.

He added that the matter is still ongoing as policemen and officers have been deployed to the area.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has zero tolerance for cultism and warned that the police will deal ruthlessly with anyone found to be members of any cult groups in the state.

“The woman was killed by stray bullet when the two rival cults of Eiye and Aiye engaged each other on a supremacy battle.

“The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, has zero tolerance for cultism. Cultism breeds various other crimes wherever they exist,” he said.

The zone 2 Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Hauwa Idris, said the police have commenced investigation into the initial case of hoodlums attacking Oba of Isiu Palace, but are not aware of the killing incident at Alake.