Police arrest 11 LAUTECH students for cultism, recover weapons

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The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 11 students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, suspected to be members of the dreaded Eiye Confraternity and recovered firearms, ammunition, and other dangerous weapons.

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The development, according to a statement released by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Friday, followed credible intelligence received by the command.

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He said the suspects were “Adedapo Victor (24) – alleged leader of the group; Taiwo Rasheed (22) – alleged second-in-command; Emeka Issac (20); Akande Segundo (26); Akande Julius (26); Stephen Opeyemi (24); Fortune Abel (22); Oluwatunmise Ayodeji (22); Adigun Oladimeji (32); Akande Moses (28); and Karim Kalid (20).”

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The PPRO explained that a thorough search conducted on the suspects and their hideout led to the recovery of several incriminating exhibits, believed to have been intended for use in violent activities.

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Ayanlade said, “Exhibits recovered include four locally fabricated cut-to-size pistols; eleven live cartridges; one expended cartridge; two cult axes; one cutlass; one dagger knife; and one red cult hooded cap.

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“Acting on credible intelligence received by the command, operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit were deployed after it was established that members of the dreaded Eiye Confraternity had converged at their hideout within the Under-G, Yuako, and Adenike areas, where they were allegedly perfecting plans to launch coordinated attacks within the student community capable of causing widespread unrest.

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“On arrival at the identified locations, the operatives swiftly intervened and successfully foiled the planned attacks before they could be executed, leading to the arrest of 11 male suspects,” the PPRO explained.

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He said following their arrest, the suspects were taken into custody, where they voluntarily confessed to being members of the dreaded Eiye Confraternity, while preliminary investigation further revealed their alleged involvement in various cult-related criminal activities, including murder.

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Ayanlade stressed that further investigation established that all 11 suspects were students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

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The PPRO said, “In response to this development, the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, commended the professionalism, vigilance, and prompt action of the operatives whose swift response prevented what could have escalated into violent attacks within the student community.

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“The CP further assured that the command remains committed to ensuring that all individuals connected to the criminal network are brought to justice, as efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.”

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The command, therefore, reiterated that all suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations, while urging members of the public to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information that will aid the fight against cultism and other violent crimes.

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The Police added that it remained resolute in its commitment to ridding the state of cultism and other violent crimes and ensuring sustained public safety and order.

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