Police arrest four suspected cult members in Lagos

n n

…Recover locally made pistol, live ammunition

n

By Esther Onyegbula

n

LAGOS — The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of the Aiye Confraternity cult group in Mushin, following intelligence linking one of the suspects to alleged killings in the area and other parts of the state.

n

The suspects were also said to have led police operatives to recover a locally made Beretta pistol and one 9mm live ammunition.

n

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

n

According to her, the arrest followed credible intelligence on the activities of cult groups in Mushin, which prompted operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to commence an operation in the area.

n

She said the first suspect arrested, Irawo Moshod, allegedly admitted to being a former chairman of the Aiye Confraternity.

n

Adebisi said Moshod made useful disclosures during interrogation, including an alleged admission of involvement in several killings in Mushin and other parts of Lagos State.

n

She said: “During investigation, the suspect admitted to being a former chairman of the Aiye Confraternity cult group and made useful disclosures regarding the activities of the group, including his alleged involvement in several killings within Mushin and other parts of Lagos State.”

n

Acting on information allegedly provided by Moshod, the operatives proceeded to Idi-Oro, Mushin, where they recovered the locally made Beretta pistol and the 9mm live ammunition.

n

The police subsequently arrested three other suspected members of the group — Abayomi James, 29; Farouq Bankole, 28; and Steven Sunday, 19 — at Aganran by Ojuwoye.

n

The command said the three suspects admitted to being members of the Aiye Confraternity and allegedly disclosed that the recovered firearm was obtained from one Rilwan, whom they identified as a senior member of the group.

n

The four suspects are currently in police custody and assisting with investigations, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspected members of the group.

n

Commending the VCRU operatives, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, described the operation as proactive and intelligence-driven.

n

Fatai reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of residents across the state.

n

He warned cultists and other criminal elements to desist from their activities or face the full weight of the law.

n

The command also urged residents to report suspicious activities through its emergency lines for prompt police response.

n n