By Deborah Nnamdi
The Osun State Police Command has arrested six suspected cult members allegedly involved in criminal activities in Osogbo and surrounding communities.
Command spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Osogbo. He said the arrests were part of ongoing efforts by the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to clamp down on cultism and related crimes in the state.
According to Ojelabi, two suspects were arrested on August 21 at about 6:30 p.m. during a student union event at a higher institution in the state.
Acting on intelligence, officers from the Anti-Cultism Unit apprehended the suspects, identified by their nicknames “Orife” and “Aga,” both aged 29. The duo reportedly confessed to being members of the Aiye and Buccaneer (Alora) confraternities.
In a separate operation on August 19, police operatives arrested four other suspects believed to be cult members terrorising Okuku Town and its environs. The arrests followed credible information received by the command.
Ojelabi further stated that in another operation, police stormed hideouts of armed cultists linked to the Eiye confraternity, led by one ‘Gafari’, who had been disturbing residents of Gbeja and Oke-Baale areas in Osogbo. The suspects fled upon sighting the operatives.
Recovered from the hideouts were one cut-to-size single-barrel gun, a cut-to-size double-barrel gun, five sharp cutlasses, an axe, and three live cartridges.
He confirmed that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, and all arrested individuals would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, urged students across the state to steer clear of cultism and focus on their education, warning that the law would deal decisively with anyone found involved in such acts.
(NAN)
