Police arrest suspected cultists during initiation in Lagos hotel

By Sodiq Adelakun

Policemen attached to the Tolu Division of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested five suspected cult members during initiation in the Ajegunle area of the state.

The suspects include Peter Odumola, 19, Promise Benjamin, 20, Emmanuel Ikechuckwu, 19, Richards Adu, 18, and Abdullahi Nasiru, 20.

It was gathered that the arrest followed a distress call received by the Divisional Police Officer, Tolu Division, that some suspected cultists were forcefully initiating a new member in a hotel in the area.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, said policemen arrested five suspects and rescued the new member that was being forcefully initiated.

He said, “Operatives of the Tolu Division of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested five suspected cultists, Peter Odumola, 19, Promise Benjamin, 20, Emmanuel Ikechuckwu, 19, Richards Adu, 18, and Abdullahi Nasiru, 20.

“The suspects were arrested on Sunday, July 9, 2023, around 1am following receipt of a distress call concerning an ongoing forceful initiation happening in a hotel in the Ajegunle area of the state. The victim was successfully rescued and the suspects will be arraigned upon conclusion of investigations.”

Hundeyin said the state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, charged residents to report any suspicious happenings in the localities to help expunge criminality in the state.

He added that the state frowns at cult activities and would not hesitate to lawfully punish anyone who belongs to any of such groups.