The Police Command in Osun has arrested two suspected cult members, and recovered gun and axe at Laoye Street in Ede North Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesperson for the command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, made this known in statement on Friday in Osogbo,
Ojelabi stated that a distress call was received on Oct. 19, at about 12:30p.m that suspected cultists were attacking one another, causing panic and threat to public safety in the area.
He stated that detectives were deployed to the scene and that upon arrival, the operatives were ambushed and opened fire on by the suspected armed cultists.
He said the officers repelled the attackers, and arrested a suspect, who was found in possession of a locally made cut-to-size gun.
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He said the suspect sustained a minor gunshot injury on his right thigh during the incident and was attended to accordingly.
He said during interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Aye cult group.
Ojelabi said when operatives search the already cordoned-off crime area, another suspect was arrested with a yellow battle axe and some suspected charms.
He said the suspect also confessed to being a member of the Eiye confraternity during interrogation.
He said that the command was intensifying efforts to apprehend other fleeing members of the suspected cult groups and recover any additional weapons that may be in their possession.
Similarly, the command said it had arrested 14 suspects from their hideouts and black spots across Osogbo.
He said the suspects were arrested during a coordinated raid of identified black spots and suspected criminal hideouts at Ode-Oga, Gbonmi, Popo, Isale-Aro, Oja-Oba, Allie and Orisunmibare.
He said 37 persons were initially arrested but 23 were later released unconditionally after profiling.
He said preliminary interrogation and findings linked those arrested to alleged criminal activities, including extortion, thuggery, illicit drug-related activities, and conduct capable of causing terror and panic among residents of the affected communities.
He said the suspects have all been charged to court.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to combating cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, and other violent crimes in the state.
He warns residents against acts capable of endangering lives and disrupting public peace, assuring that the command would not relent in bringing perpetrators of criminal activities to justice.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and criminal activities to the nearest police station or through established police emergency channels. (NAN )
