Oyo State Police Command Arrests 15 Suspected Cultists and Armed Robbers

The Oyo State Police Command has apprehended 15 suspected cultists and armed robbers in Ibadan, the state capital. The suspects were paraded by the State Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Sonubi, at the Command headquarters in Eleyele.

According to Sonubi, cultism poses a significant threat to public safety, and the Command has employed strategic measures to combat the menace. The suspects were arrested at different locations within the Ibadan metropolis, including Apete, Abayomi (Iwo-Road axis), Ijokodo, Moniya, Monatan, Ojoo, Samonda, and Sango, which have been identified as hotspots for cult-related activities.

The suspects, who have confessed to being members of the “Brother Across Nigeria” (BAN), also known as “Alora,” were paraded along with five cult-inscribed jackets. The police also recovered several incriminating items, including: Three Dane guns, one locally-made pistol, one cut-to-size gun, and one long-barrel gun, A red Toyota Camry with registration number KTU 41 JH, Five jackets with cultism inscriptions, a red cloth, a powder blue beret with inscriptions, and three cutlasses.

Sonubi expressed concerns over the involvement of youths in cultism and cult-related activities, emphasizing that cultism is a growing threat to public safety and tranquility. He appealed to parents, guardians, religious leaders, and community leaders to intervene in the fight against cultism, urging them to discourage young people from engaging in cult-related activities.

The police also announced plans for increased visibility policing across the state, especially during the Yuletide season, with regular stop-and-search operations and intelligence-led operations aimed at reassuring the public of the police’s commitment to tackling insecurity.

By Omolola Dare

GMN Correspondent, Oyo State