Police arrest 42 cultists terrorising Ikorodu, Orile, Ijora in Lagos

CITIZENS COMPASS – THE Lagos State Police Command, have arrested 42 suspected cultists terrorising some parts of the state particularly Ikorodu, Ebute-Meta, Ijora and Orile areas of the state.

The suspects were paraded on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at Command Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos just as the State Commissioner for Police, CP Idowu Omohunwa said the command has declared war on criminal elements particularly manufacturers of illegal fire arms in the state.

He said the suspects were arrested through the efforts of the command’s Tactical Squads during different operations in the affected areas.

While parading the suspects, the CP stated that in line with the promise he made to Lagosians when he assumed office and with the support of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, he formed and equipped the Tactical Squads which have so far recorded laudable achievements.

He warned those who are engaged in cultism and violent criminal activities in the state to desist and opt for legitimate means of livelihood or face the wrath of the law.

Of the Tactical Squads, he said, ” We sent them to our area commands, equipped and charge them to operate optimally, not just to identify these cultists but to undertake intelligence operations such that the battle will be taken to safe havens of these so-called cultists.

“To support their operations, we also deployed unique intelligence because the orientation is that we do not wait for these cultists to strike, we want to be steps ahead of them in order to restore orderliness within the internal security forum of Lagos State, ”said the CP.
Omohunwa said the Squads recorded laudable achievements within the first two weeks of Operations.

The Police boss expressed delight that the arrests were made through the courageous and coordinated activities of these officers deployed for the special operations.
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‘ ‘Within the first two weeks, we have made very significant breakthroughs which are worthy of notification.

” In the course of this anti-cultism operations, we have mopped up and arrested a total number of 42 cultists in operations carried out in Ijora, Orile, Ebute-meta and ikorodu.” he said.
According to him, the command also recovered ten firearms from the suspected cultists.

These include six locally made short guns, three locally semi- automated pistols and one English made pistol.
Others are three battle axes, three cutlasses, three daggers, three knives, thirteen live cartridges and multiple charms.”

“ I am therefore warning the cultists that in line of the promises I made to Lagosians , we will deploy all our operational assets and we will provide the leadership support that will ensure that the special unit of the command sustains the battle against cultists who appeared to be determined to threaten the internal security of Lagos, our value for peace and wish for a stable secured state.

‘ ‘ The Lagos State Command under my watch will deny them the access in a very forceful way. I am also reassuring Lagosians that the battle to rid Lagos State of cultism and violent crimes has started and we will not relent until we restore orderliness across the state. So the cultists and every group that operates on whatever guise should take this as clear and firm warning.

” They have an option of changing for better and get legitimate means of livelihood or they will have the command and the law to contend with.

” We can not continue to allow miscreants who are increasingly arming themselves in senseless warfare under the guise of cultism and inflicting pains on innocent citizens and those they consider as rivals, we can not sit back and allow this to continue,”

The Commissioner sought for cooperation from individuals to supply relevant information to the Command, ” we seek the cooperation of the citizens by way of information and cooperation with us.

“I implore them to be proactive by giving intelligence report, we must present a common front to defeat this common enemy called cultism “

He described cultism as an evolving crime that is of a potent threat to the internal security of Lagos State.

” we cannot continue and allow some miscreants who are increasingly arming themselves and engaging in senseless warfare under cultism for no motivation other than to test blood or inflict pains on innocent lives.

‘ ‘ we cannot in any way sit back as law enforcement agents and allow the situation to continue, so we seek the cooperation of citizens of Lagos State by way of information and cooperation with us we are showing that the best way to fight this war is to be proactive.

” We seek citizens cooperation in terms of intelligence gathering in order to defeat these common enemies. ”