The Police Command in Ondo State has disrupted a suspected cult gathering and arrested five alleged members in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Akure, noting that the operation was carried out by the Special Anti-Cultism Squad following credible intelligence.
According to Jimoh, the police on March 27 received actionable information from members of the public indicating that individuals suspected to be cultists were assembling at a residential building in the area.
He said operatives were swiftly deployed to the location, where they tactically cordoned off the premises and apprehended the suspects identified as Adesuye Dare, Ayeerun Joshua, Ojo Omole, Adu Dele, and Akeju Idowu.
“The suspects were reportedly engaged in a secret meeting, chanting cult-related slogans and exhibiting behaviours consistent with cult activities, raising serious concerns about public safety,” Jimoh stated.
Preliminary investigations, he said, revealed that the suspects are members of the notorious Eiye Confraternity, a secret cult group linked to violent crimes, unlawful gatherings, and threats to public peace.
Jimoh added that the suspects are currently in police custody and have provided useful information aiding ongoing investigations aimed at uncovering the wider network of the group and preventing further criminal activities.
He noted that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, commended the operatives for their prompt response and also praised members of the public for providing timely information that led to the arrests.
The police spokesperson reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance stance against cultism and other criminal activities, assuring residents of sustained intelligence-driven operations to ensure safety across the state.
He urged youths to avoid involvement in cult-related activities, warning of severe consequences, while also calling on parents and guardians to monitor their wards.
Jimoh said the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations and encouraged residents to remain vigilant and continue to support the police with credible information, assuring that such information would be treated with confidentiality.
