Police arrest suspected cult members, recover weapons in Ekiti

Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, of Ekiti State Police Command have arrested three suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, cultism and belonging to an unlawful society.

The suspects were identified as Aluko Mayowa, 33, Oparinde Samuel, 34 and Mukaila Akintayo,  37.

This was contained in a statement signed and made available to journalists by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu.

Parts of the statement read, “Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects are members of the Eiye Secret Confraternity and have made statements admitting their alleged membership, as well as their respective positions and roles within the group.

“Following their arrest, the operatives conducted thorough searches of their residences and premises, during which the following exhibits were recovered: one locally made pistol, one UTC axe, one iron-made dangerous axe, one jackknife, and one cutlass.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects currently at large, while investigation continues to unravel the activities and network of the suspected cult group in the State.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, CP FALADE ADEGOROYE MICHAEL, reiterates the Command’s commitment to tracking down other members of the group, as well as other criminal elements in the State, and ensuring that persons found culpable are brought to justice.”

The Ekiti police commissioner urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist in preventing cultism, violent crimes and other forms of criminality across the state.