On Monday, the Oyo State Police Command paraded 15 suspected cultists and armed robbers, recovering dangerous weapons and two cars.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Sonubi, who paraded the suspects at the command headquarters in Ibadan, said other crimes committed by the suspects ranged from illegal possession of firearms and hard drugs.
Sonubi listed the exhibits recovered from the suspects which include five cultism jackets with inscriptions, three Danish pistols, one locally made pistol, one long barrel pistol, three cutlasses and a red cloth.
According to him, the command had received disturbing reports of cult-related activities in some parts of the metropolis, particularly in Apete, Abayomi (Iwo-Road axis), Ijokodo, Moniya, Monatan, Ojoo, Samonda and Sango.
He further stated that regular raids led by intelligence services will prevent the spread of further bloodshed in the state.
“As we all know, cultism poses a significant threat to public safety, hence the strategic interventions of the Oyo State Police Command to counter and spread this sinister trend through intelligence gathering.
“Ongoing investigations have revealed that these experiences of cult-related violence are motivated by retaliation, with components of the quest for absolute dominance by these sinister cult groups against their rivals,” he said.
He said the anti-robbery section of the Criminal Intelligence Department on Friday embarked on an undercover operation in the Kajorepo/Ojoo area, arresting three suspected members of the “Eiye” confraternity.
Sonubi said the alleged leader of the Axis brotherhood had participated in several operations of the group where lives were lost.
The PC further said that the command, on Saturday, at around 12:22 pm around Ijokodo area, carried out a raid, based on credible information, arresting three suspected cultists.
He said a Danish pistol and a locally made pistol were allegedly recovered from the ceiling of the suspects' room.
Sonubi urged parents and leaders to prevail over their children and followers against cultism and its sinister vices.