Police arrest eight cultists, recover arms in Kwara

By Muyideen Aliyu

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested eight suspected cultists and recovered firearms and dangerous weapons during coordinated operations across the Ilorin metropolis.

Operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit, in collaboration with other tactical teams of the command, acted on credible intelligence to conduct a targeted raid at a suspected cultists’ hideout located in the Akuo and Fagba areas of Ilorin.

The operation led to the arrest of the eight suspects.

The suspects were identified as Ismail Sodiq (35), Ibrahim Saheed (26), Feyikemi Odoje (28), Ishola Faisat (23), Abubakar Zainab (22), Azeez Olarenwaju (27), Soliu Ibrahim (22), and Abdulbasit Abdulkadir (24).

This was made known in a statement available to newsmen in Ilorin on Friday by the police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, who said that a cache of dangerous weapons and other incriminating items were recovered during the operations.

According to Adeyemi, the recovered exhibits 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 noted that the arrests and recoveries underscore the command’s commitment to denying criminal elements the opportunity to operate, while strengthening ongoing efforts to rid the state of cultism and other forms of violent criminality.

Investigations are ongoing to establish the extent of each suspect’s involvement, identify other members of the criminal network, and apprehend fleeing accomplices.

Adeyemi pointed out that those found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, psc, attributed the operational success to the intelligence-led policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating cultism and other violent crimes through proactive policing and public collaboration.