ILORIN, Kwara State — The Kwara State Police Command has arrested eight suspected cultists and recovered firearms and dangerous weapons during a targeted operation in Ilorin, the state capital, the command announced on Saturday.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Friday, disclosing that the operation was conducted based on credible intelligence regarding the activities of secret cult groups terrorising residents of Ilorin and surrounding communities. According to the statement, the suspects were apprehended at their hideout following weeks of surveillance by operatives of the command’s anti-cultism unit.
Items recovered from the suspects included two locally made pistols, three live cartridges, two cutlasses, suspected hard drugs, and several incriminating documents linked to cult activities. The command stated that the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation.
Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Victor Olaiya, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the activities of cult groups across the state. He directed area commanders and divisional police officers to heighten surveillance and clamp down on any form of secret cult operations within their jurisdictions.
The commissioner also warned that the police would not tolerate any form of cult-related violence or criminality capable of disrupting public peace. He reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring that Kwara State remains inhospitable to cultists and other criminal elements.
CP Olaiya further appealed to residents to continue providing timely and useful information to law enforcement agencies. He assured that all information received would be treated with utmost confidentiality and acted upon promptly.
The arrests come amid growing concerns over the resurgence of cult activities in parts of Kwara State, particularly in urban centres where cult groups have been linked to killings, extortion, and violent clashes. Community leaders have repeatedly called on security agencies to step up patrols and intelligence gathering to curb the menace.
Local government officials in Ilorin have welcomed the arrests and commended the police for their swift action. They urged the command to sustain the momentum and ensure that the suspects are prosecuted without delay to serve as a deterrent to others.
The Kwara State Government has also expressed support for the police operation, promising to strengthen collaboration between state authorities and security agencies in the fight against cultism. A government spokesperson noted that cult-related violence has no place in the state and that all offenders would face the full weight of the law.
As investigations continue, residents of Ilorin have expressed relief following the arrests, with many hoping that the operation will restore calm to the community. For now, the police have sent a clear message: cultists have no hiding place in Kwara State.
