Police nab 135 suspected cultists in Lagos, seize 26 guns

The Lagos State Police have caught 135 suspected cultists and taken away guns and other dangerous weapons during raids in the state.

The police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, shared this in a statement on Wednesday. The raids were planned to stop cult-related violence during the yearly 7/7 celebration and initiation of rival cult groups.

The statement said, “Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, including Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Tactical Commanders, and the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), followed the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, PSC, MNIPS, and acted on solid intelligence to carry out raids across known criminal hideouts and black spots in the state to stop cult violence linked to the 7/7 celebration/initiation.”

The police recovered 26 guns, 16 other dangerous weapons like cutlasses, battle axes, daggers, and knives. They also found cult insignia, various charms, 11 bottles of alcoholic drinks, items believed to be Indian hemp, and other illegal drugs, along with six mobile phones.

“The operation led to the arrest of one hundred and thirty-five (135) suspected cultists and the recovery of twenty-six (26) firearms, sixteen (16) other dangerous weapons such as cutlasses, battle axes, daggers, and knives, cultist insignia, assorted charms, eleven (11) bottles of different alcoholic brands, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and other illicit drugs, as well as six (6) mobile phones,” the statement explained.

The police received intelligence that rival cult groups planned to attack and engage in violent clashes in various parts of the state.

“The operation followed intelligence indicating plans by rival cult groups to launch attacks and engage in other criminal activities,” the statement said.

The police also mentioned that investigations are still ongoing to find and catch other gang members involved, while those arrested will face court charges.

“Investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal gangs, while the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” the statement concluded.