Police arrest 22 suspected cultists, including 2 soldiers, in Osiele raid
By: Zagazola Makama
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 22 suspected members of the Aiye confraternity, including two soldiers, during a raid on a suspected cult gathering at Hilltop Hotel, Osiele area of Abeokuta.
Zagazola Makama reports that the arrest followed a credible intelligence tip-off received by the police on July 25 at about 8:20 p.m.
Police sources stated that a well-coordinated operation involving detectives from Aregbe Division, operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, and the Anti-Cultism Squad was immediately launched on the target location.
“In the course of the raid, 22 suspects comprising 19 males and three females were arrested. Among them are two serving soldiers whose identities are being verified,” the spokesman said.
Recovered from the suspects were one UTC axe, a cut-to-size barrel gun, and several blue berets items commonly associated with the Aiye cult group.
The suspects have been transferred to the Anti-Cultism Unit at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Eleweran, for discreet investigation.
The command reaffirmed its resolve to sustain the clampdown on cultism and other violent crimes across the state, urging residents to report suspicious gatherings to security agencies promptly.
