Police arrest eight suspected cultists in Kwara

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.

Reports show that the arrest is coming barely a week after four people were killed, two gravely injured and two arrested in a fierce shooting incident by suspected cultists around the Post Office area of Ilorin metropolis.

A statement by the spokesperson of the command, Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, in Ilorin on Friday, said “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, of Ilorin metropolis.

“The operation led to the arrest of eight suspected cultists, and identified as Ismail Sodiq ‘M’ 35yrs, ⁠Ibrahim Saheed ‘M’ 26yrs, Feyikemi Odoje ‘F’ 28yrs, Ishola Faisat F’ 23yrs, Abubakar Zainab ‘F’ 22yrs, Azeez Olarenwaju ‘M’ 27yrs, Soliu Ibrahim ‘M’ 22yrs, and Abdulbasit Abdulkadir ‘M’ 24yrs.”

Adeyemi, revealed that during the operations, a cache of dangerous weapons and other incriminating items were recovered. 

The 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.

She said an investigation is ongoing to establish the extent of each suspect’s involvement, identify other members of the criminal network, and apprehend fleeing accomplices, while those found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, attributed the operational success to the intelligence-led policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirming the command’s commitment to combating cultism and other violent crimes through proactive policing and public collaboration.