The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of the Aiye Confraternity in Mushin and recovered a locally made Beretta pistol alongside a live 9mm ammunition during an intelligence-led operation.
The arrests were carried out by operatives attached to the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), following information received about the activities of suspected cult groups and their alleged involvement in violent crimes within Mushin and other parts of the state.
The development was disclosed by the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, in a statement issued on Monday.
According to Adebisi, the operation was launched after police operatives received credible intelligence concerning the activities of members of cult groups operating within the Mushin axis.
She explained that investigators first arrested a man identified as Irawo Moshod, who was described by the police as a suspected former chairman of the Aiye Confraternity.
Moshod’s arrest reportedly became a major breakthrough in the investigation, as police said he provided information about the structure and activities of the group during interrogation.
The police spokesperson stated that the suspect allegedly made disclosures concerning several violent incidents and killings in Mushin and other parts of Lagos.
Based on information allegedly obtained from him, VCRU operatives moved to the Idi-Oro area of Mushin, where they recovered a locally manufactured Beretta pistol and one live 9mm round of ammunition.
The discovery, according to the command, strengthened the ongoing investigation into the activities of the suspected cult group and prompted further efforts to identify other individuals allegedly connected to the network.
As the investigation progressed, police operatives arrested three more suspects at Aganran by Ojuwoye.
The suspects were identified as 29-year-old Abayomi James, 28-year-old Farouq Bankole and 19-year-old Steven Sunday.
The command said the three men admitted during questioning that they were members of the Aiye Confraternity.
They also allegedly provided investigators with information regarding the firearm recovered during the operation.
According to the police, the suspects claimed that the weapon had been obtained from an individual identified as Rilwan, whom they described as the number one member of the group.
The command did not disclose whether Rilwan had been arrested as of the time of the statement but said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspected members of the group.
The four suspects remain in police custody and are reportedly assisting detectives as investigations continue.
The police said the ongoing investigation is aimed at uncovering the wider network of the suspected cult group, determining the extent of its activities and bringing other persons allegedly involved in violent crimes to justice.
Cult-related violence has remained a major security concern in several parts of Lagos, with the police and other security agencies frequently carrying out operations aimed at disrupting groups suspected of engaging in clashes, killings, intimidation and other criminal activities.
The latest operation is also part of the Lagos State Police Command’s efforts to strengthen intelligence-led policing and prevent criminal elements from using communities as bases for violent activities.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, commended the VCRU operatives for what he described as their effective use of intelligence in tackling cultism and other forms of violent crime.
Fatai said the command would continue to deploy intelligence gathering, investigation and targeted operations to dismantle criminal networks operating across the state.
He maintained that the police would not allow cult groups and other criminal elements to threaten the lives and property of residents.
The commissioner consequently warned cultists and individuals involved in other criminal activities to desist from such acts or be prepared to face the full consequences of the law.
He also called on residents to support ongoing security efforts by providing useful information about suspicious individuals, movements or activities within their communities.
According to the police, information supplied by members of the public can assist security operatives in detecting criminal activities early, preventing attacks and apprehending suspects.
The command urged residents to make use of its emergency communication channels whenever they notice suspicious activities or have information that could assist the police in maintaining peace and security.
Meanwhile, investigations into the activities of the suspected Aiye Confraternity members are continuing, with police operatives expected to intensify efforts to locate other suspects allegedly connected to the group.
The Lagos State Police Command reiterated that its security operations would continue across different parts of the state as part of measures to protect residents and prevent criminal organisations from gaining ground.
The arrest of the four suspects and recovery of the firearm are expected to form part of the evidence being examined by investigators as they work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged activities of the group.
Police authorities have also stressed that suspects remain subject to investigation and due legal process as the case progresses.