Etim Ekpimah
Police operatives attached to Ijanikin Division of the Lagos State Police Command on Sunday, July 25, 2021, around 11 am, arrested two suspected cultists at Oto Awori, Ijanikin area of Lagos State.
The operatives were said to have raced to the scene and arrested the two suspects while responding to a distress call from a good Samaritans that two groups of cultists were on rampage, attacking one another with dangerous weapons along Oto Awori Ijanikin Expressway by Ile Oba Bus Stop.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said due to the swift response of the police, normalcy was immediately restored to the area and no life was lost in the clash.
He said the suspects are Taiye Israel, ‘m,’ and Isiaka Afeez, ‘m’.
According to him, the police also recovered some weapons like one axe; some cutlasses; assorted charms, and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the command’s Strike Team, Ikeja, for proper investigation and possible arrest of other members of the gangs.
“He further directed the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ijanikin Division to step up his anti-crime strategies in curbing crimes and criminality, especially cultism, in his area of responsibility.
“CP Hakeem Odumosu has also directed tactical commanders and other special squads in the command to immediately embark on constant raid of black spots and criminal hideouts in the area as it is applicable to other parts of Lagos State, in compliance with the command’s zero tolerance for crimes and criminality, particularly cultism,” the CP said.
The CP therefore warned cultists, miscreants and those who have plans of causing unrest and engaging themselves in criminal acts in the state to steer clear of Lagos State, adding that the command and other security agencies will not relent in their spirited efforts to sustain and improve on the present security and peace being enjoyed by residents of Lagos State.