By Oluwatoyin Adegoke
Fourteen suspected cultists have been arrested in a police operation across the Isara, Ipara and Ode axis of Ogun State over alleged unlawful assembly and plans to breach public peace.
Those arrested include Solomon Shobamiwo , Farooq Ogunsola, Toheeb Abolade, Balogun Williams, Ayodele Abdulkareem, Adedapo Ogunsanya, Toheeb Saka, Akpan Dara, Micheal Olakemi, Habeeb Olayinka, Dapo Adeola, Adetunji Adeyemi, Henry Kingsley and Nanso Blessing.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, Mr Oluseyi Babaseyi in Abeokuta said the arrests followed actionable intelligence on the gathering of suspected members of the Eiye Confraternity at a bush location in Ipara-Remo.
Mr Babaseyi explained that the Items recovered during the operation led by the operatives of the Anti- Cultism unit and Special Weapons and tactics teams, included three locally made pistols, 11 live cartridges and four rounds of 9mm ammunition during the raid.
He listed other items to include criminal charms, confraternity caps, a drum suspected for cult initiation, 19 mobile phones, a Samsung mini laptop and nine vehicles, some without registration numbers.
The Police Spokeperson said the suspects were currently under investigation and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, while intelligence-led patrols and sweep operations had been intensified to track down other fleeing suspects in the area.
Meanwhile, The Commissioner of Police, Mr Lanre Ogunlowo condemned cultism and all forms of unlawful assembly, urged youths to shun criminal affiliations as the Command reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Ogun State.
