Kwara; Police Disrupt Suspected Cult Network, Atrest eight
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
In a decisive crackdown on cult-related activities and other emerging threats to public peace, operatives of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested eight suspected cultists and recovered firearms and dangerous weapons during coordinated operations across the Ilorin metropolis.
Operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit, in collaboration with other tactical teams of the Command, acted on credible intelligence and conducted a targeted raid at a suspected cultist’s hideout located in the Akuo and Fagba Area, Ilorin.
The operation, according to a statement by SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, led to the arrest of eight suspected cultists.
They are Ismail Sodiq, Ibrahim Saheed, Feyikemi Odoje, Ishola Faisat, Abubakar Zainab, Azeez Olarenwaju,Soliu Ibrahim and
Abdulbasit Abdulkadir.
During the operations, a cache of dangerous weapons and other incriminating items were recovered. Exhibits recovered include two locally made pistols, one pump-action shotgun, two cut-to-size shotguns, 25 expended cartridges and other dangerous weapons capable of being used to facilitate violent crimes and threaten public safety.
The arrests and recoveries, the statement added, underscore the Command’s commitment to denying criminal elements the opportunity to operate, while strengthening ongoing efforts to rid the State of cultism and other forms of violent criminality.
“Investigations are ongoing to establish the extent of each suspect’s involvement, identify other members of the criminal network, and apprehend fleeing accomplices.
Those found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Adekimi Ojo, psc, mnips, attributed the operational success to the intelligence-led policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating cultism and other violent crimes through proactive policing and public collaboration,” the statement added.
