In two days, men of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested 13 suspected cultists in Ikorodu and Moroluke/Wey Street, Mushin areas of the State.
Those arrested in Mushin include Daniel Adome, 18; Popoola Michael, 20; Kayode Thomson, 18; and Taiwo Okiki, 18. They are members of Omo Kasari Confraternity, according to the State Police Spokesman, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Also, a special operational team dispatched by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu and led by the Divisional Police Officer in Ipakodo, arrested nine members of Aiye Confraternity fomenting troubles in Ikorodu around 12pm.
The suspected cultists include Opeyemi Oderinde, 19; Otubu Samson, 17; Otako Jeremiah, 16; Kayode Agoro, 17; Agbelusi Sunday, 20; Kazeem Ishola, 20; Olasojo Gbolahan, 18; Ayodele Olasunkanmi, 18; and Segun James, 21.
Upon arrest, Adejobi adds, exhibits recovered from the suspects are: locally-made guns, live cartridges, axes, cutlasses, charms, and some other offensive weapons.
The Spokesman noted that the suspects were arrested after the recent cult related crises in Ikorodu.
“The Lagos State Police Command has vowed to rid the state of cultists and hoodlums who foment troubles and threaten peace and security of the State,” he said.
Recently, the State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, was said to have given the matching order to the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Heads of Department via Police Wireless Message that miscreants, cultists and hoodlums be sniffed out of their hideouts, arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
“The CP said cultism precedes and precipitates other heinous crimes and social vices; and it must be tackled headlong,” Adejobi quoted, “The CP has concluded plans to work hand in hand with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to secure speedy trial of the suspects as the command’s Operation Say No to Cultism continues.”
The CP, however, recognised and appreciated the roles of community members in making the operations successful while calling for more supports from all and sundry in the fight against cultism and other vices in the state.