The Oyo State Police Command has heightened efforts to combat cult-related violence and criminal activity in the state with the arrests of no fewer than 15 persons.
The 15 paraded suspects were linked to cultism and firearms offenses amd were subsequently picked up at different locations within Ibadan metropolis.
Among the items recovered during intelligence-led raids were five inscribed cultism jackets, three Dane guns, one locally made pistol, one cut-to-size gun, and one long-barrel gun. The police also seized a red Toyota Camry vehicle (Reg No. KTU 41 JH) linked to the suspects.
Addressing newsmen at a press briefing held earlier today at the State Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan, the Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Sonubi, expressed concerns over the involvement of youths in cultism and cult-related activities in parts of the state.
Specifically, areas including Apete, Abayomi (Iwo-Road axis), Ijokodo, Moniya, Monatan, Ojoo, Samonda, and Sango have been identified as hotspots for such illicit activities.
The arrests followed a series of operations, including a sting at the Federal Polytechnic Ayede, where five individuals were apprehended for attempting to initiate students into a cult group.
These suspects, who have confessed to being members of the “Brother Across Nigeria” (BAN), also known as “Alora,” were paraded along with five cult-inscribed jackets.
The Police revealed that further investigations have led to the seizure of additional firearms and banned substances.
The Police also said it arrested four suspects linked to a cultist rendezvous point near Shasha Motor Park in Ojoo, Akinyele Local Government Area, where weapons and illicit drugs were recovered.
The police equally disclosed the arrest of suspected members of the “Eiye” confraternity, a cult group, on December 13, following an operation in the Kajorepo/Ojoo area during which several items, including cult-related clothing and weapons, were seized.
In another similar development, police has disclosed the arrest of three robbery suspects in the Ijokodo area on December 14, recovering firearms from their hideout stressing that the arrests were part of the ongoing crackdown on violent crimes in the state.
The police also announced plans for increased visibility policing across the state especially during the Yuletide season, with regular stop-and-search operations and intelligence-led operations as part of efforts aimed at reassuring the public of the police’s commitment to tackling insecurity.
Cultism, according to the Police boss in the state, is a growing threat to public safety and tranquility and as such would not be condoned at any level of the society.
He explained that the Oyo State Police Command has been proactive in addressing these emerging security concerns, using a multi-pronged approach including intelligence gathering, stakeholder advocacy, and strategic intelligence-led raids aimed at preventing further violence.
He confirmed that the recent wave of cult violence was largely retaliatory, driven by rival cult groups seeking dominance over one another.
CP Sonubi appealed to parents, guardians, religious leaders, and community leaders to intervene in the fight against cultism, urging them to discourage young people from engaging in cult-related activities.
“We will not relent in our efforts to ensure that anyone who disturbs the peace of our state faces the full wrath of the law,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police however, emphasized the importance of community participation in securing the state saying:
“The relative tranquility enjoyed by the good citizens of Oyo State is non-negotiable. If you see something, say something, and the police will do something.”
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