By our Reporter
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of a notorious cult group and recovered firearms, live ammunition, and a knife during a midnight operation in the Egbeda area of the state.
The suspects, identified as Nurudeen Ganiu, 34; Oluwaleke Fagbula, 38; Emmanuel Silas, 41; and Nurudeen Abdullahi, 41, were apprehended following credible intelligence indicating that suspected cultists were conducting an initiation ceremony in the area.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, operatives of the command acted swiftly on the intelligence and launched a covert operation that led to the arrest of the suspects.
Items recovered during the operation included a locally made cut-to-size pistol, an English Beretta pistol loaded with ten rounds of live ammunition, and a jack knife.
The police said further investigations revealed that one of the suspects is a notorious cult gang kingpin and a former university student in Ogun State who was allegedly expelled in 2022 over cult-related activities.
Investigators also established that the group had been involved in acts of thuggery and had allegedly terrorised residents of Egbeda and neighbouring communities for some time.
According to the police, the suspects confessed to being active members of the Eiye Confraternity, a notorious secret cult group. The gang reportedly carried out attacks using motorcycles to target unsuspecting members of the public and disrupt social gatherings at gunpoint.
Commending the operatives for the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, praised their professionalism and prompt response, which led to the arrest of the suspects and recovery of the weapons.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling cultism and other violent crimes across Lagos State, assuring residents that efforts to rid communities of criminal elements would be sustained.
The police chief also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting law enforcement agencies with timely and credible information to enhance security across the state.
The suspects are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
