The Lagos State Police Command has announced the arrest of 42 suspected cultists in connection with a series of crimes in various parts of the state. The Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, confirmed the arrests while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in the Ikeja area of the state. He had previously identified cultism as an evolving crime threatening the internal security of the state and laid out a new set of operational plans to address the emerging threat.
As part of the intelligence-led anti-cultism operations, the police arrested the suspects in Ijora, Orile, Ebute Meta, and Ikorodu. During the operations, the police recovered a total of 10 firearms of various descriptions, including locally-made short guns and semi-automatic pistols, an English-made pistol, battle axes, cutlasses, daggers, knives, live cartridges, and multiple charms from the cultists.
The Commissioner of Police reiterated the commitment of the police to rid Lagos State of cultists and other criminals. He called on Lagosians to cooperate with the police by providing information and support to subdue the cultists in the state. He warned the criminals that they either change their ways and opt for a legitimate means of livelihood or face the full force of the law.
The Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, also confirmed that the police have reorganised the special unit of the command, zoned the state, and equipped the different special units to operate optimally. The police will deploy all operational assets and leadership to sustain the battle against cultists determined to threaten the internal security of the state. The command will deny them the space to operate and threaten the peace that Lagosians yearn for.