POLICE ARREST FIVE SUSPECTED CULT MEMBERS, RECOVER WEAPONS DURING RAID IN LAGOS
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested five suspected cult members during an intelligence driven operation targeting criminal groups operating in the Apapa, Ijora and Badia areas of the state.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the Command's Violent Crime Response Unit following actionable intelligence on the activities of a gang believed to be linked to cult related violence and other criminal offences.
Police identified the first suspect as 25 year old Abubakar Ayomide, also known as "Garbazin." Following his arrest, investigators traced the group's hideout where four additional suspects were taken into custody. They were identified as Tanko Yusuf, 23, Ahmed Abibu, 24, Abubakar Shafi, 23, and Fatai Mohammed, 25.
According to police sources, the principal suspect admitted to membership of the Aiye Confraternity during interrogation and has provided investigators with information considered useful to the ongoing investigation. Security operatives are pursuing other suspected members believed to have escaped arrest.
A search of the hideout produced a cache of items including a battle axe, a UTC knife, two other knives, a hammer, substances suspected to be cannabis, suspected ritual objects and other materials considered relevant to the investigation.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, warned individuals involved in cult related activities to abandon criminal operations or face arrest and prosecution. He stated that security personnel would sustain targeted operations against cult groups and other violent offenders across the state.
The Commissioner said intelligence gathering and enforcement operations would continue across identified flashpoints with the objective of dismantling criminal networks and improving public safety.
He also appealed to residents to support policing efforts by supplying credible and timely information, assuring that the identities of informants would remain protected throughout the investigation process.
The arrested suspects remain in police custody and are expected to face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.
