Police Arrest 11 Suspected LAUTECH Cultists, Recover Firearms, Foil Planned Attack In Ogbomoso

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IBADAN – The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 11 suspected members of the Eiye Confraternity, believed to be students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), following an intelligence-led operation that foiled an alleged planned attack within the university community.

The Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Oluseyi Olayinka, stating that operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) acted on credible intelligence indicating that suspected cult members had assembled in parts of Ogbomoso to perfect plans for coordinated attacks capable of causing widespread unrest among students.

According to the police, the suspects had reportedly converged at hideouts located in the Under-G, Yuako and Adenike areas of Ogbomoso when the operatives stormed the locations.

The statement said the swift intervention of the officers disrupted the alleged plot before it could be carried out, leading to the arrest of 11 male suspects.

Those arrested were identified as 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.

The police said preliminary investigations linked the suspects to cult-related criminal activities.

According to the statement, the suspects allegedly admitted during interrogation to being members of the Eiye Confraternity, while ongoing investigations have linked them to several cult-related offences, including alleged involvement in murder.

The Command also stated that investigations established that all 11 suspects are students of LAUTECH.

Items recovered during a search of the suspects and their hideouts included four locally fabricated cut-to-size pistols, 11 live cartridges, one expended cartridge, two cult axes, one cutlass, one dagger knife and a red hooded cult cap.

The police said the recovered weapons were believed to have been intended for use in the planned attacks.

Commending the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, praised the professionalism, vigilance and prompt response of the VCRU operatives, noting that their timely intervention prevented what could have degenerated into violent attacks within the student community.

The commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks operating in the state, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspected members of the group who are currently at large.

He assured residents that everyone connected with the alleged criminal network would be brought to justice.

The police added that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Command also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support efforts aimed at combating cultism and other violent crimes.

It reiterated its commitment to ensuring public safety and maintaining law and order across Oyo State.