ILORIN, Kwara State — The Kwara State Police Command has arrested four suspected cultists, including an alleged leader of the Eiye Confraternity, during a targeted raid in Ijagbo community, Oyun Local Government Area of the state.
The police spokesperson, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday, disclosing that the operation was conducted based on credible intelligence reports regarding the activities of secret cult groups terrorising residents of Ijagbo and surrounding areas. She identified the alleged Eiye leader simply as Azeez, while the other three suspects were named as Ibrahim, Quadri, and Moruf.
According to the police spokesperson, 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, three cutlasses, suspected hard drugs, and several incriminating documents linked to cult activities.
DSP Ejire-Adeyemi stated that the suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ilorin for discreet investigation. She added that the command is intensifying efforts to track down other members of the cult group who are currently at large.
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, particularly those in Ijagbo and neighbouring communities, 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 rural communities 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 Oyun Local Government Area 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 Ijagbo 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.
