Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a 27-year-old suspected cult member and recovered a locally made pistol loaded with a live cartridge during a stop-and-search operation in the Ijaiye/Ojokoro area of the state.
The suspect, identified as Yusuf Lamina Adigun, was apprehended after police intercepted a motorcycle carrying three passengers and conducted a routine search.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said officers discovered the weapon in the suspect’s possession.
“During the search, one of the passengers, Yusuf Lamina Adigun, a 27-year-old male, was found in possession of a locally made pistol loaded with one live cartridge,” the police said.
According to the command, Adigun allegedly confessed during preliminary interrogation to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity and revealed details of a planned attack.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity. He further disclosed that he and other members of the cult group, who are currently at large, were on a mission to launch an attack on some individuals before they were intercepted by the Police,” the statement added.
Police said the suspect remains in custody while efforts are underway to track down other members of the group and recover additional weapons.
“The suspect is currently in Police custody while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the criminal group and recover additional weapons that may be in their possession,” the release also added.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, reiterated the command’s commitment to combating cultism and other violent crimes through intelligence-driven operations.
The Commissioner “reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to sustaining intelligence-led policing and proactive operations aimed at combating cultism and other violent crimes across the State.”
He also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could help prevent crime and enhance public safety.
