The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspected cultists allegedly involved in terrorising residents of the Apapa, Ijora and Badia areas of the state, recovering dangerous weapons, suspected illicit drugs and other incriminating items during a coordinated intelligence-led operation.
The Command’s spokesperson, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) carried out the operation following credible intelligence.
According to the statement, the operation began with the arrest of a 25-year-old suspect, Abubakar Ayomide, popularly known as “Garbazin”, who subsequently led detectives to the group’s hideout where four other suspects were apprehended.
The other suspects were identified as Tanko Yusuf, 23; Ahmed Abibu, 24; Abubakar Shafi, 23; and Fatai Mohammed, 25.
“Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, acting on credible intelligence, have arrested five suspected cultists believed to be terrorising the Apapa, Ijora and Badia areas of Lagos State.
“The operation led to the arrest of a suspect, one Abubakar Ayomide, alias ‘Garbazin’, 25 years, who subsequently led operatives to the group’s hideout, where four other suspects were apprehended,” the statement said.
The police said the principal suspect admitted to being a member of the Aiye Confraternity and had provided investigators with useful information to aid ongoing investigations.
“The principal suspect confessed to being a member of the Aiye Confraternity and has provided useful information to investigators. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang and conclude investigations for prosecution,” the statement added.
A search of the hideout led to the recovery of a battle axe, a UTC knife, two additional knives, a hammer, substances suspected to be Indian hemp, suspected criminal charms and other exhibits.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, warned cultists and other criminal elements operating in Lagos State to abandon their activities or face the full force of the law.
“The Commissioner of Police has issued a stern warning to all cultists and other criminal elements operating within Lagos State to immediately renounce their criminal activities or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
“There is no hiding place for cultists in Lagos, as the Command remains resolute in identifying, arresting, and prosecuting every individual involved in cult-related violence and other criminal acts.
“The Commissioner of Police further reassured residents that the Command will continue to intensify intelligence-led operations across the State until cultism and other violent crimes are decisively curtailed,” the statement read.
The Command urged residents to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information, assuring that all reports would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
It also released the following emergency numbers for distress calls and intelligence sharing: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, 08080193432 (Marine), and 09168630929.
