The police command in Oyo state says it has arrested two suspected cultists and recovered firearms and ammunition.

The command’s spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, in a statement on Thursday, said operatives attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), acting on credible intelligence, apprehended the suspects, who belong to a notorious cult group.

“The Oyo state police command has recorded another significant breakthrough in its sustained efforts to combat cultism, violent crimes and other criminal activities across the state.

“The successful operation underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the critical role of actionable information provided by members of the public in combating crime,” the police statement said.

The suspects were apprehended at a hideout in the Oke-Apo area of Oyo town.

Mr Olayinka said the suspects, identified as Oparemi Kabiru, also known as ‘Ikebe’ and Fasasi Taofeek, also known as ‘Bufalo’, were arrested on Wednesday following intelligence that indicated they and their associates were involved in activities threatening public peace and security within the town and its environs.

The spokesman said a thorough search of the suspects led to the recovery of one locally made pistol and two live cartridges.

He stated that the suspects confessed to being members of the Eiye Supremo Confraternity and admitted to being involved in several violent criminal activities within the town and surrounding communities.

The police commissioner, Abimbola Olugbenga, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and to ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven anywhere in the state.

He stressed that security is a shared responsibility, urging residents across the state to be vigilant and actively support law enforcement efforts by sharing timely, accurate, and credible information.

The commissioner admonished members of the public to embrace the principle of “see something, say something”, noting that prompt reporting of suspicious persons, movements and activities enables proactive police intervention and helps prevent crimes before they occur.