Badoo: Shrine Owner Distances Self from Gang, Ritual Killing, Accuses Police of Frame Up

Badoo: Shrine Owner Distances Self from Gang, Ritual Killing, Accuses Police of Frame Up

Hours after he was arrested and released by the Lagos State Police Command for his alleged involvement in the Badoo gang ritual killings, Chief Alaka Abayomi, on Wednesday distanced himself from the allegations.

Abayomi, who admitted that he was the owner of the said shrine at Agbowa, however said he was a traditionalist who has the right to practice the religion he believes in without fear.

The owner of Alaka filling station also accused the police for framing him up and linking his shrine with the Badoo ritual gang, saying that he neither belongs to the cult group.

He said: "I was invited by the police on July 18 and I honoured the invitation where I made a statement through writing. I was asked if I belong to the Badoo cult group, and I said no.

"I was further asked about a deity I worship, I told them yes, that I have a dedicated traditional place of worship because that is the god I worship and believe in.

"After the interrogation, I was allowed to go home only for the Police to storm my house at Magodo where I live on July 30, and informed me that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Edgal Imohinmi, wanted to see me, and I followed them.

"On our way to the state command, they stopped and picked up two other persons. Getting there, I was detained and no one told me what my offence was.

"It was until the following day that they brought me out and put me in a vehicle with journalists and asked me to take them to my deity where I worship at Agbowa in Ikorodu.

"I took them there, they searched everywhere and nothing incriminating was found.

"I have this deity which I worship for over 30 years, as far as I know in Ikorodu alone, there are over 100 deities people believe and worship, nobody questioned them.

"Police searched everywhere and nothing incriminating was found, yet they tagged me a murderer and a leader of Badoo cult.

"If I may ask: if I am a leader or belong to Badoo cult group, will police release me? For 30 years, I have lived in Ikorodu. People know me as a business man and know the type of business I do, but only God will vindicate me.”