Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested five suspected cultists allegedly involved in criminal activities in the Apapa, Ijora and Badia areas of the state.
The arrests were made by officers of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following credible intelligence, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi.
The police said the operation led to the arrest of 25-year-old Abubakar Ayomide, popularly known as “Garbazin”, who subsequently led operatives to the gang’s hideout where four other suspects were apprehended.
The other suspects were identified as Tanko Yusuf, 23; Ahmed Abibu, 24; Abubakar Shafi, 23; and Fatai Mohammed, 25.
According to the police, the principal suspect confessed to being a member of the Aiye Confraternity and has provided investigators with useful information. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang and conclude investigations ahead of prosecution.
A search of the hideout led to the recovery of a battle axe, a UTC knife, two other knives, a hammer, substances suspected to be Indian hemp, items believed to be criminal charms and other exhibits.
Reacting to the arrests, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, warned cultists and other criminal elements operating in the state to abandon their activities or face the full weight of the law.
He said there was no hiding place for cultists in Lagos, stressing that the Command remained committed to identifying, arresting and prosecuting all those involved in cult-related violence and other criminal activities.
The commissioner also assured residents that the Command would continue intelligence-led operations across the state to curb cultism and other violent crimes.
He urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to the police, assuring that all reports would be treated with strict confidentiality.