Police arrest 14 suspected cult members

Etim Effiong

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 14 suspected cult members who foment troubles around Mushin and Ikorodu areas of Lagos State.

A statement signed and made available to journalists on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the police also recovered locally-made guns; live cartridges; axes; cutlasses; charms, and some other offensive weapons from the suspects.

Adejobi stated that some of the suspects arrested by Mushin Division and who are Omo Kasari Confraternity members are: Daniel Adome, m, 18, Popoola Michael, m, 20, Kayode Thomson, m, 18, and Taiwo Okiki, m, 18.

According to him, they were on rampage at Moroluke/Wey Street, Mushin on 8th Novemeber, 2020 around 10pm when the police picked them up.

“Similarly, due to the recent cult related crises in Ikorodu Area of Lagos State, on 9th November, 2020, at about 1215pm, a special operational team, that was despatched by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, led by the Divisional Police Officer in Ipakodo, arrested some members of Aiye Confraternity fomenting troubles in the area.

“The arrested suspects include Opeyemi Oderinde, m, 19, Otubu Samson, m, 17, Otako Jeremiah, m, 16, Kayode Agoro, m, 17, Agbelusi Sunday, m, 20, Kazeem Ishola, m, 20, Olasojo Gbolahan, m, 18, Ayodele Olasunkanmi, m, 18, and Segun James, m, 21,” he said.

Adejobi stated that the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu has vowed to get the state rid of cultists and hoodlums who foment troubles and threaten peace and security of Lagos State.

He added that the CP gave the matching order recently to the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Heads of Department via Police Wireless Message that miscreants, cultists and hoodlums be sniffed out of their hideouts, arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

According to the Commissioner of Police, cultism precedes and precipitates other heinous crimes and social vices; and it must be tackled headlong.

“Items recovered from the suspects include locally-made guns, live cartridges, axes, cutlasses, charms and some other offensive weapons.

“The Commissioner of Police has concluded plans to work hand in hand with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to secure speedy trial of the suspects as the command’s Operation Say No to Cultism continues,” he said.

He noted that the Commissioner of Police recognises and appreciates the roles being played by community members in making the operations successful.

Odumosu, however, called for more supports from all and sundry in the fight against cultism and other vices in the state.