No fewer than 30 suspected cultists were arrested within one week in Ijebu Ode and its environs by men of the Ogun State Police Command.

According to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Sunday, some of the suspected cultists arrested by the police included Gbenga Banjo, popularly known as Solution; Akeem Kareem, also known as Obalufon; Dammy, Jawando(real names yet unknown) and Kazeem Akeem, also known as Obalofin.

Others are Oluwatimileyin Akintunde, popularly known as Majek; Olootu Lukman, also known EBA, Neyo(not real name) and Oladele Oluniga.

The Police spokesman said some of the suspects had been arraigned in court in Ijebu Ode.

Adejobi said police carried out raids on many black spots and hideouts such as Fidipote Street, Ogbogbo Village, Ita Alapo, Imeweje Village and some hotels in the area. where the suspects were arrested.

He said, "The raids led to the arrest of the prime suspects or ring leaders, who had been involved in many criminal acts including series of killings of people in the area and in some other parts of the state."

He said this feat was recorded through the special teams raised by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Val Ntomchukwu, to stem the tide cultism in the state, most especially in Ijebu Ode, where rival cult groups had been unleashing terror on one another.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said, "In its determination to stem the tide of cultism and other criminal activities in the state, the commissioner of police deployed more than 10 teams, comprising Special Anti- Robbery Squad, Anti- Robbery of the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Mobile Police Force, State Intelligence Bureau among others.

"These teams are led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Shina Olukolu, and some other senior police officers to carry out operations in the Ijebu area.

"The Commissioner of Police has ordered thorough investigation into the matter.

"And he reiterated that the command will not allow any individual or group of hoodlums to truncate the existing security arrangement in the state or embarrass the command. He has vowed to take the fight against cultism and other vices to the door steps of the hoodlums."

The PPRO added that the police operatives recovered arms and ammunition from the suspected cultists.

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