One 22 years old Maliki Bello described as the Supreme Leader of the notorious Berry Boys Secret Cult with operational base at Itire area of Lagos State has been arrested.
Bello, said to be on the wanted list of the police for violent crimes and gang clashes was arrested on February 4, 2020.
A native of Lalupon, Kwara State, and resident at 23 Ayinla Street, Idiaraba area of Lagos State, he was said to have confessed to being responsible for series of violent attacks, murder and armed robbery cases recorded at Idiaraba, Lawanson, Dosunmu, Ashimowo Bakare, Omo-Bola Mushin and Itire.
Bello who was arrested by operatives of Itire Police Station said he was initiated into the cult at the age 12 when he was in Junior Secondary School (JSS1).
He later rose to the number one position, mostly addressed as the Supreme Leader of the Berry Boys Confraternity.
The gang is said to have an official Facebook page (Bbl Baloteli) with 1,928 friends.
According to the spokesman of the Lagos Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, in a statement, Bello said they use the Facebook page and other social media accounts to recruit new members, plan attacks and give updates to members.
Investigation was said to have led to the arrest of 11 additional suspects.
The statement reads in part: “The Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu psc has further reaffirmed the commitment of the Command to address the menace of cultism and youth gangsterism in Lagos State.
“The onslaught on social miscreants launched by the Commissioner of Police is intelligence driven, targeting mostly the leaders of the gangs and cult groups and blocking the channels through which they recruit young people.
“The Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants has successfully brought under control the activities of various cults and gangs in the state through well coordinated and targeted operations.
“The onslaught will be sustained until they are totally defeated.”
