The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspected cultists during an intelligence-led operation targeting criminal elements allegedly terrorizing Apapa, Ijora and Badia areas of the state.
The arrests were carried out by officers from the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) after obtaining credible intelligence about the suspects’ activities.
Police said in a statement that the operation first led to the arrest of a 25-year-old suspect, Abubakar Ayomide, also known as “Garbazin”, who then led officers to the group’s hideout, where four other alleged members were arrested.
The other suspects were identified as Tanko Yusuf, 23; Ahmed Abibu, 24 years old; Abubakar Shafi, 23 years old; and Fatai Mohammed, 25 years old.
According to police, the main suspect confessed to being a member of the Aiye Brotherhood and has provided investigators with useful information to assist in the ongoing investigations.
The command added that efforts are being made to locate other members of the criminal gang and conclude investigations before prosecution.
A search of the hideout led to the recovery of a battle axe, a UTC knife, two other knives, a hammer, substances suspected to be Indian hemp, suspected criminal amulets and other exhibits.
Reacting to this development, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, warned cultists and other criminal elements operating across the state to abandon their illegal activities or face the consequences.
“There is no hiding place for cultists in Lagos as the Command remains determined to identify, arrest and prosecute all individuals involved in cult-related violence and other criminal acts,” he said.
The Commissioner also assured residents that the Command would maintain intelligence-led operations across the state to tackle cultism and other violent crimes.
He urged the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police, assuring them that all reports would be handled with the utmost confidentiality.
Police also encouraged residents to report emergencies or share useful information through the Command’s emergency lines.