Two masquerades who are members of a secret cult operating in the Ikorodu and its environs in Lagos have been arrested for allegedly trying to displace some residents in order to take over their lands.

The suspects who work for a land grabbing syndicate were arrested on Sunday.

It was learnt that the suspects and some others now at large had earlier written to property owners in the area asking them to come and repurchase lands which they had acquired many years ago.

In the letter, the gang threatened to deal with anyone who failed to comply with the order.

For fear of their lives, some of the victims paid a yet-to-be ascertained amount of money to the group, while those who were unable were dragged out of their property by masquerades and beaten.

One of the victims, who did not want his name mentioned for fear of what will happen to his family, said a few of them wrote to the Lagos State Police Command.

Meanwhile, the command’s spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, tweeted: “At about 10am today, patrol officers from Imota Division stopped two men coming from Sagamu on a motorcycle for a search.

“Found on them were a locally made semi-automatic pistol, two live ammunition, charms, masquerade regalia and three mobile phones. The suspects confessed to being cultists and working as land grabbers in Ikorodu.” (Daily Trust)