Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have apprehended four suspected cultists and recovered firearms, live ammunition, and a knife during a targeted operation in Egbeda area of the state.

The operatives apprehended the suspects, who were between the ages of 34 and 41, following credible intelligence that suspected cult members were holding an initiation ceremony at midnight within the Alimosho axis.

The suspects were identified as Nurudeen Ganiu (34), Oluwaleke Fagbula (38), Emmanuel Silas (41), and Nurudeen Abdullahi (41).

Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, who confirmed this in a statement said operatives of the command launched a covert operation that led to their arrest while acting on the information.

Adebisi a Supretendent of Police said items recovered include one locally made cut-to-size pistol, one English Beretta pistol loaded with ten live rounds of ammunition, and a jack knife.

Adebisi said preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects was a suspected cult gang leader and a former university student in Ogun, allegedly expelled in 2022 over cult-related activities.

The image maker further disclosed that the group had been linked to cases of thuggery and violent attacks, allegedly terrorising residents of Egbeda and neighbouring communities.

She said the suspects had confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity, a secret cult group, and allegedly used motorcycles to carry out attacks on unsuspecting members of the public.

Adebisi said state Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai commended the operatives for their swift response and professionalism.

CP Fatai, while praising the operatives, described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the fight against cultism and violent crime.

He assured residents of the command’s continued commitment to tackling cult-related activities and other criminal threats across the state.

The image maker urged the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police with timely and credible information through the command’s emergency lines: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, and 09168630929.