A Septogenarian, Mr Samuel Kelly and members of his family have been issued death threat by an alleged cult group, Airlord Confraternity (Eiye) over the refusal of Peter Imade to be initiated as member of the deadly group.
Mr John Jerry who narrated the story to The Nigerian Observer, said since Septogenarian received the death threat, movement of severally strange faces around his house located in Three House area of Upper Sakponba in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Council of Edo State.
Jerry said that since Imade told the Septogenarian about the pressure they (cultists) have mounted on him to be initiated as their member, he has known no peace.
He said on several occasion, the boy (Imade) has been trailed to the house but was lucky not to have been injured on a particular incident that happened in front of my house.
According to Jerry, several attempts were made by the cult group to get Peter Imade, 23, to be member of the group but refused on each occasion.
“It was the last attempt on him to be initiated that made him (Imade) leave the area to take refuge in my house.
“He ran away from Upper Sakponba because they vowed to eliminate him should he fail to present himself for initiation,” he explained.
Jerry noted that the group had stormed the Kelly’s on that faithful day to carryout their threat but unknown to them that their target had taken refuge somewhere else.
“On arrival at the Kelly’s that day, they shot sporadically into the air to scare people away and later inflicted injuries on anybody they set their eyes on as they failed to see their target.
“It was even with stroke of luck that the patriarch of the house was fortunate to have escaped death alongside other members of the family who were wisked away by neighbours,” he stated.
When asked why the matter was not reported to the Police, Jerry said the family did but the police never show any serious concern on the issue as it was alleged that some of them are members of various cult group.
According to him, “This was what my friend told me before he left the country for safety. He told me his uncle had taken him to report the matter at the Ugbeku Police Station but was surprised that they did not shown any seriousness at acting on the case.
“Infact, he was openly told to prepare to face any eventuality; it was few days after reporting the matter at the station that he was given an ultimatum of seven days to present himself for initiation or face the consequences.
“It was at this point that he ran from Upper to hide in my place at Ewah road.
“We had to do all within our power for Imade to leave the country because we were afraid that with time, he would be traced to my place.”
Jerry said with Imade’s out of the country for safety, the Kelly’s family were yet to get any respite.
“Infact, the family now live with fear and the police is not helping matter as they are yet to make any arrest or provide security for the family.
“The painful aspect of the whole situation is that the family now squat in friends home,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the State police spokesman, Mr Chidi Nwabuzor, denied the allegation of officers of the Police been members of confraternities.
He noted that investigation is been painstakingly and discreetly carried out on the matter because of it sensitive nature.
