Juliana Francis
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, today 19th of April 2023, paraded 42 suspected cultists, arrested in different areas of the state.
The CP, who paraded the suspects at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, vowed to go after people who used to supply guns to the cultists, including the manufacturers.
Owohunwa explained that the suspects were arrested in Orile, Ijor, Ebute-Metta, and Ikorodu areas, with the assistance of anti-cultism operatives.
According to him, in the course of the operation, a total of 10 arms of different descriptions were recovered from the suspects, including six locally made short guns, three fabricated semi-automatic pistols, and one English-made pistol.
Other exhibits are three axes, three cutlasses, three daggers, knives, and 13 live cartridges, and multiple charms.
The CP said: “I want to warn cultists in line with the promise I made to Lagos residents, we will deploy all our operational assets and I will provide the leadership that will sustain the battle against cultist members who threatened the internal security of the state and our values. The Lagos State Command under my watch will deny them the space in a forceful manner. I want to assure the residents that we are not going to relent!”
He added: “We have decided not only to arrest cultists but to go after the fabricators of arms to nip attacks on innocent people. Today, we are parading 42 suspected cultists and we intend to carry out the battle on their doorsteps or their enclave. We will deploy every asset at our disposal! We will deny them space to operate in the state. We are advising them to turn a new leaf or face the wrath of the police. We want to reassure Lagos residents that the battle to rid the state of cultists and other criminals is a promise that must be fulfilled.”
Owohunwa appealed to members of the public to give the Police the necessary support as they prepare to wage continuous battle against cultists and other criminals.”
The Police boss further explained that special squads that would deal with the cultists would be sent to the area commands.
These squads will be expected to operate optimally, not just to identify the cultists but to undertake intelligence-led operations such that the battle will be taken to their doorsteps and safe havens.
He also stated: “We also want to deploy our unique intelligence assets because the orientation is that we do not wait until the cultists strike. We want to remain steps ahead of them in order to restore peace in Lagos. Through the officers deployed for the operation, within the first two weeks, we have made a significant breakthrough which is worthy of notification for members of the public.”
