Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested four suspected notorious cultists allegedly linked to cult-related violence and other criminal activities in the Egbeda area of Lagos, recovering firearms, live ammunition and a knife during a targeted operation.
The suspects, identified by the police as Nurudeen Ganiu, 34; Oluwaleke Fagbula, 38; Emmanuel Silas, 41; and Nurudeen Abdullahi, 41, were apprehended following credible intelligence indicating that suspected cult members were conducting an initiation ceremony around midnight in the Alimosho axis of the state.
According to the police, operatives swiftly launched a covert operation based on the intelligence report, leading to the arrest of the four suspects. During the raid, officers recovered a locally made cut-to-size pistol, an English Beretta pistol loaded with 10 rounds of live ammunition, and a jack knife.
Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects is an alleged cult gang kingpin and a former student of a university in Ogun State who was reportedly rusticated in 2022 over cult-related activities. Police investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting that the group had been involved in thuggery and had allegedly terrorised residents of Egbeda and surrounding communities for some time.
The command further disclosed that the suspects confessed to being active members of the notorious Eiye Confraternity, a secret cult group known for violent activities in parts of the country.
Investigators said the gang allegedly operated by using motorcycles to launch attacks on unsuspecting members of the public and disrupt social gatherings at gunpoint, creating fear among residents in the area.
Commending the operatives for the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, praised their professionalism and prompt response, which led to the arrests and recovery of weapons.
The police chief also reassured residents of the command’s commitment to tackling cultism and other violent crimes across the state, stressing that efforts to dismantle criminal gangs and improve public safety would continue.
The latest operation underscores ongoing efforts by the Lagos State Police Command to curb cult-related violence and strengthen security in communities across the state, particularly in areas that have witnessed recurring clashes and criminal activities linked to cult groups.
