The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered what investigators believe was a key supply point for suspected cult activities in Imota where three alleged members of the Aiye Confraternity were arrested and a cache of firearms, ammunition, and other weapons were recovered in an intelligence-led operation.
The raid, carried out after residents alerted security agencies to suspicious activities in the community, marks another effort by the command to disrupt the growing flow of illegal weapons believed to fuel cult violence across parts of Lagos.
Police said one of those arrested, 37-year-old Jelili Adeyemo, is suspected to be the armourer of the group, a role investigators believe involved storing and supplying weapons to members for criminal operations. Also arrested were Bisoye Adewale, 42, and John Okeafo, 60.
The command, on Wednesday, said preliminary findings linked the suspects to the Aiye Confraternity, one of the cult groups that have repeatedly featured in violent clashes, killings, and armed attacks in different parts of the state.
Police further alleged that the Beretta pistol recovered during the operation belongs to a notorious cult figure identified simply as “Mayibone”, who remains at large.
According to the command, the three suspects have been arraigned before a competent court and remanded, while investigators continue efforts to arrest other members of the group and recover additional weapons believed to be in circulation.
The operation followed credible intelligence supplied by members of the public which continues to reinforce the importance of community participation in combating organised crime.
In recent years, Lagos has witnessed repeated police operations targeting cult groups accused of orchestrating armed robberies, land disputes, targeted killings, and violent reprisals, particularly in suburban communities where rival confraternities compete for influence.
Even though the latest operation did not link the suspects to any specific attack, investigators are expected to examine whether the recovered weapons were used in previous violent incidents or were intended for future criminal activities.
Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reaffirmed the command’s determination to sustain pressure on violent criminal groups operating within the state.
Fatai said the police would continue intelligence-driven operations against cultism and other organised crimes, while urging residents not to relent in providing information capable of preventing criminal activities before they occur.
He stressed that public cooperation is essential to policing, especially in neighbourhoods where residents are often the first to observe unusual movements or suspicious gatherings.
The command encouraged members of the public to report suspicious persons, vehicles, and activities through the nearest police station or its emergency communication channels, assuring residents that information received would be treated with confidentiality.
The latest arrests underscore the police’s continuing strategy of targeting not only suspected cult members but also the supply chains that sustain their operations.
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