Dreaded Badoo strikes in Lagos Church, kills mother, children

The Badoo cult struck on Tuesday at Temu village in the Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area, Epe, Lagos State, killing a mother and her two kids.

The victims, identified as Iyabo (mother), David, 4; and 8-year-old Rachael, were reportedly killed around 2am on Tuesday at a Celestial Church in the neighbourhood while they were asleep.

It was learnt that the assailants had scaled the fence to gain entry into the church and thereafter used a stone to pound their targets to death.

It was gathered that the church also served as the residence of the family.

The Punch was told that the victims had on Monday returned from a two-week trip.

The woman’s husband was reportedly not around when the gang struck.

A resident of the area, Adeshina Idowu, said the family moved to the area six months ago, noting that the community was stunned by the attack.

He said, “The family moved into the community six months ago. Somebody rushed into my house this morning (Tuesday) and said that Mama David was dead. It was when I got to the scene that I saw the woman’s two kids were also killed. The scene of the attack indicated that Badoo was at work because there was a stone at the scene.

“I don’t know how the assailants got into the community because we have security guards patrolling everywhere. How they entered into the victims’ compound is a mystery to us.”

Another resident, who identified himself only as Tajudeen, said the incident was reported to the police at the Agbowa Police Division, adding that policemen from the division took the corpses away.

He said residents had taken the incident for a robbery, until they got to the scene.

He said, “The family just returned to the village on Monday. Initially, we thought it was a robbery. But when we entered into their apartment, we saw a stone used by the assailants and there was no sign that any property of the family was stolen. That was when it occurred to us that the assailants were members of Badoo.”

The Police PRO, Olarinde Famous-Cole, said a landlady and a commercial motorcycle rider had been arrested for the killings.

He said, “A case of murder was reported at the Agbowa Police Station. The landlady and an okada rider (motorcyclist) who reside in the compound have been arrested and transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.

“The incident has no connection with ritual killings as insinuated. The era of ritual killings is gone in the state. Investigation is ongoing.”