The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected cultists and recovered firearms, live ammunition, and a knife during a targeted operation in Egbeda area of the state.
SP Abimbola Adebisi, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
According to Abimbola, the suspects, who were between the ages of 34 and 41, were apprehended following credible intelligence that suspected cult members were holding an initiation ceremony at midnight within the Alimosho axis.
“Acting on the information, operatives of the command launched a covert operation that led to their arrest.
“Items recovered include one locally made cut-to-size pistol, one English Beretta pistol loaded with ten live rounds of ammunition, and a jack knife, ” she said.
Adebisi said that preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects was a suspected cult gang leader and a former university student in Ogun, allegedly expelled in 2022 over cult-related activities.
The image maker further disclosed that the group had been linked to cases of thuggery and violent attacks, allegedly terrorising residents of Egbeda and neighbouring communities.
She said that the suspects had confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity, a secret cult group, and allegedly used motorcycles to carry out attacks on unsuspecting members of the public.
Adebisi said that state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani commended the operatives for their swift response and professionalism.
“CP Tijani, while praising the operatives, described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the fight against cultism and violent crime.
“He assured residents of the command’s continued commitment to tackling cult-related activities and other criminal threats across the state, ” the spokesperson said.
She urged the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police with timely and credible information through the command’s emergency lines: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, and 09168630929.