By Muyideen Aliyu
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of a notorious cult group during a targeted operation in Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government Area of the state.
This was made known in a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, who said the command acted on credible intelligence regarding the activities of suspected cultists and violent criminals operating within the area.
Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) subsequently carried out a coordinated raid on identified criminal hideouts in Ijagbo.
Ejire-Adeyemi stated that during the operation, one Idowu Akorede, identified as the alleged “Capon” of the outlawed Eiye Confraternity, was arrested at a hideout in Ijagbo, while further operations led to the arrest of three others.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are members of a criminal gang involved in cult-related activities, robbery, and other violent crimes.
The group has been linked to incidents in which residents were reportedly attacked and dispossessed of their valuables in broad daylight, creating fear and insecurity within the community.
Ejire-Adeyemi noted that the suspects resisted arrest and launched an attack on the police with broken bottles in a bid to evade apprehension.
The suspects have since been transferred to the state police headquarters and are currently in police custody while investigations continue. Efforts are also ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, reassured residents of the command’s unwavering determination to confront all forms of criminality and ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.
CP Ojo encouraged members of the public to remain vigilant and to continue supporting the police with timely and useful information that would aid ongoing efforts to combat crime and maintain public safety.