‘Badoo boys’ and senseless killings in Ikorodu

In Ikorodu, one of the suburbs of Lagos State, gruesome killings seem to have become virtually a daily affair, and it is not uncommon to hear people ascribe every murder incident to ‘Badoo boys’. In that community at the moment, the fear of the cultists is the beginning of wisdom.

Presently in Ikorodu and its environs, ritual killers are simply believed to be members of the Badoo boys, especially when the signature killing is cruel, like beheading, or crushing of heads with stones that have become commonplace in the area.

Badoo boys have been terrorising residents of Ikorodu for some months now, and it appears the slow response from security agents has resulted in self-help approach by the people. This self-help however, has led to the employment of jungle justice by the fear-stricken members of the community. This, analysts say begs the question of government obligation to its citizens, especially those who reside in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The last killing was a family of five, the Badoo boys came around midnight, killed the man, raped and killed his pregnant wife, his 16 and five years old daughters and they also did not spare the man’s nine-year-old son.

These killings have been going on for about a year now and government’s apparaent slow action to act has got some Lagosians talking about the value those in authority place on human lives.

BDSUNDAY spoke with a cross-section of Lagosians who reacted to the spate of senseless killings and the place of government in the security of lives and property.

Opeoluwa, a broadcaster

I think there is the need for military men, especially soldiers, to be stationed around Ikorodu axis. Traditional rulers cannot curtail the matter alone. Also residents need to be alert on how to raise alarm whenever they suspect any evil operation. Since those Badoo guys operate at night, all hands must be on deck to curb their evil activities.

Akintola Emmanuel, Mass Communication graduate from Ibadan Poly

The issue of Badoo in Ikorodu is a clear indication of what is going on in different communities in Nigeria. Various cult groups are springing up every day in different communities but leaders of such communities and security operatives are pretending not to be aware of their operations. The issue of cultism has been handled light-handedly and the society is paying heavily for it now. Gone are the days when cultism was limited to the four walls of higher institutions. Now, even kids are exposed to these unlawful societies. Badoo did not just come into existence now. I’m sure it has been in existence for long and a neglect of their activities by community leaders and security operatives have contributed to the pathetic situation we are experiencing now.

The security operatives must do everything possible to arrest the sponsors of the cult group and those apprehended must be adequately punished as stipulated by the Law. This will serve as a deterrent to others.

Also, members of the society should feel free to supply useful information to the police about any suspicious activities carried out by any group in their area.

Miss Alice Eleyele, a secretary, based in Lagos

The senseless and gruesome murder of innocent people both old and young in Ikorodu by the deadly Badoo gang is not only pathetic but also worrisome. This is a clear indication of a failed society. The nefarious acts of this deadly gang I am sure didn’t just start in a day but it’s very unfortunate that the community leaders either tolerated them as mere youthful exuberance or either looked the other way.

Can we blame the government for allowing it to get to this stage?  Probably yes or no. The people involved are not ghosts. It means that they are residents of Ikorodu with probably most of them being the children of some of the community leaders. These are faceless individuals to the government and the law enforcement agents.

However, the government has a responsibility to protect her citizens and in this regards need the cooperation of the community leaders. The leaders need to work hand in hand with the law enforcement agents both the uniformed and the plain clothed ones.

Security is a collective responsibility and therefore, to curb further killings and jungle justice within the Ikorodu axis, all hands must be on deck.

Oni Modupe, Student

The frequent killing in Ikorodu is another way of saying the government has failed in its primary responsibility to the people in the area. That people can be killed in their homes the way it is being carried out in Ikorodu goes to show that our security operatives are not doing their work as expected. However, jungle justice is not something I would want to support or advocate at this point in time. But, when the government and the security agencies fail to do their job the people have no choice than to apply self help, which have resulted into jungle justice. If the government had responded early enough nobody in this area will apply self-help. So, I think the government and security men should just do their work and save the people of Ikorodu from this terrible Badoo boys.

Grace Shuibu, a teacher

I don’t know much about the background story of Badoo boys in Ikorodu until recently when it was in the news that a family of four was murdered and the jungle justice that led to the death of that promising young comedian. It is situation like this that makes people take laws into their hands especially when the government fails to respond to the plight of the people. Our security operatives must rise to the occasion by bringing the people behind the killings to book, if we want to stop the jungle justice currently going on in Ikorodu.

Victoria Okenzue, factory worker

Badoo boys or whatever they call themselves are not ghosts and surely live within Ikorodu and its environs. The police should do their job by getting to the bottom of the matter because we cannot have people being killed every week like these and not have residents taking to self-help. I even understand the OPC is getting involved to help the police, it is a welcome idea and we must all accept it as a collective challenge to bring these people to justice. We cannot afford to leave the Badoo boys killings in Ikorodu to the police alone, everybody in Lagos should be concerned and get involved in whatever capacity they can to help the police with the right information.

Seyi John Salau