The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected cultists and recovered firearms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons during a targeted operation in the Egbeda area of Lagos.
The suspects, identified as Nurudeen Ganiu, 34; Oluwaleke Fagbula, 38; Emmanuel Silas, 41; and Nurudeen Abdullahi, 41, were apprehended following intelligence reports indicating that a group of suspected cult members was conducting an initiation ceremony at midnight within the community.
Police operatives, acting on the intelligence, launched a covert operation that led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of one locally made cut-to-size pistol, one English Beretta pistol loaded with 10 rounds of live ammunition, and a jack knife.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects is a notorious cult gang leader and a former student of a university in Ogun State who was reportedly expelled in 2022 over cult-related activities.
Further investigations established that the gang had allegedly been involved in thuggery and other criminal activities, terrorising residents of Egbeda and surrounding communities.
The suspects reportedly confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity, a secret cult group known for violent activities. Police said the gang often used motorcycles to carry out attacks on unsuspecting members of the public and disrupt social gatherings at gunpoint.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, commended the operatives involved in the operation for their professionalism and swift response, which led to the successful arrest of the suspects.
He reiterated the Command’s commitment to combating cultism and other violent crimes across the state, assuring residents that efforts would continue to ensure the safety of lives and property.
The police chief also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and support law enforcement agencies with timely and credible information that could assist in crime prevention and detection.
The suspects remain in police custody while investigations continue, with authorities expected to prosecute them upon the conclusion of the investigation.
