I joined cult to avenge my friend’s murder and I have no regrets – Suspect

Those were the words of 29-year-old Ibrahim Balogun, aka Small Jpron, who was, yesterday, paraded by the Lagos State Police Command. He had been declared wanted for five murder cases in the Somolu and Bariga areas in 2016.

Speaking while being paraded, he said: “I am a Bird. I belong to Eiye confraternity and we are always fighting with Aiye (Black Axe) over who controls the area. We also fight when they snatch our member’s girlfriend.

I joined Eiye because Aiye people killed my best friend, Sunday Folorunsho, aka Small Biscuits, in 2009. His death pained me so much and Eiye people came to me that they will help me get revenge if I join them. I agreed and that same 2009, we killed Femi Wiper.

Lekan Akon was killed in 2010. Since then I have not killed anyone again but my members have been killing people. I joined in killing the two victims I mentioned because they killed my friend.

I know that it is the sins of the past that have caught up with me. I do not regret my actions. I take responsibility for it but I want to advise young people that cultism does not pay.

They should never repay evil with evil. Our government too is not helping the youth. So many young people who do not intend to take to crime are doing so because no assistance is coming from the government.”

Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said Small Jpron was a known criminal in the Somolu area and was the one who led a cult gang war in January, where his gang set ablaze a house in which an elderly woman was burnt to death.