Ogun State Police Command has paraded 24 suspected cultists, who were allegedly responsible for being behind several incidents of armed robberies and act of terrorism in the state.
The suspects were arrested from major towns across the state which included Abeokuta, the state capital, Ijebu – Ode, Igbesa, as well as from Agosasa in the border community of Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.
The alleged criminals have reportedly confessed their memberships of both the dreaded Supreme “Eiye” Confraternity, Vikings Confraternity and Black Axe, otherwise known as “Aye” Confraternity secret cult groups.
Parading the suspects, the command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, AbimbolaOyeyemi said, arrest of the suspects became exigent in view of the sudden upsurge in activities of and cult related killings witnessed in recent times within the state.
Oyeyemi stated that the incident, which had portrayed the state as “a safe haven” for criminals, compelled the police in the state to launch a “serious clampdown on those suspected to be behind the violent cult clashes which have left no fewer than five people dead” across Ogun.
Though the PPRO was silent about the security operatives efforts at curtailing cultists’ from perfecting their preparations three months ahead of their annual cults’ anniversary which is usually celebrated at 7th of July of every year.
PremierWorldNews also gathered that, the arrest of the suspected cultists may not be unconnected with the determination of the command’s Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, who has vowed to protect the state by bringing to book, perpetrators of evil deeds towards ensuring that the law abiding citizens across the state are safe.
Disclosing that various weapons, which included: locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun; live cartridges, as well as assorted charms and cutlasses were recovered from the suspects, the Ogun PPRO further stated that the arrest was made possible through the combined efforts of members of the public and the collaboration of the state owned community security operatives called the So-SAFE Corps.
Speaking with newsmen during the parade, Oyeyemi disclosed that raids on the hideouts of the suspected cultists was targeted at supressing the rivalries and supremacy battle between the various cult groups in the state, particularly those ones who combined armed robbery with their membership of the secret cult groups.
Oyeyemi also called on parents and guardians in the state to prevail on their children to desist from engaging in criminal activities, stressing that the command will make life difficult for anyone who tries to distrupt the peace being enjoyed in the state as the law enforcement agencies are in the look out.
