Authorities in Ondo apprehend half-dozen alleged gang members, seize cache of arms

The Ondo State Police Command has taken six suspected cultists into custody following a targeted operation in the Akoko South-West Local Government Area, as part of a broader effort to suppress cultism and violent crime in the state.

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Details of the arrest were made public by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abayomi Jimoh in a statement issued on Tuesday, which outlined the operation as a key component of the state's anti-cultism campaign.

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The suspects, whose identities have been confirmed, are Damilare Kayode, 30, Adejoro Godwin, 30, Adedapo Ogunro, 36, Chisom Okechukwu, 21, Ademulegun Imisi, 26, and Odugunle Bukola, 21.

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The arrests were carried out by the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in the Akungba and Iwaro Akoko communities, acting on reliable intelligence regarding suspected cult activity in the area.

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The operation, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, June 16, 2026, was a well-coordinated effort by the Special Anti-Cultism Squad, targeting locations identified through credible intelligence as being linked to cult activities.

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According to preliminary investigations, the suspects are allegedly tied to unlawful confraternities operating in the Akoko region, a development that has raised significant security concerns in the area.

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Among the items seized from the suspects are five battle axes, one jackknife, various charms, and confraternity paraphernalia, including boots, yellow singlets, and face caps.

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The recovered items have been secured by the police and will be used as evidence in the ongoing investigation, with the suspects set to be charged in court once the investigation is complete.

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The police command is currently analyzing intelligence gathered from the operation to identify other group members and determine the full scope of their activities, both within and beyond the affected communities.