Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Lagos Police Command have arrested five suspected cultists and recovered weapons, hard drugs, and other incriminating items.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

She said the suspects were allegedly involved in terrorising residents of the Apapa, Ijora, and Badia areas of the state.

According to Ms Adebisi, the operation followed credible intelligence, leading to the arrest of the principal suspect, aged 25.

She said the suspect subsequently led operatives to the group’s hideout, where four other suspects, aged between 23 and 25, were arrested.

Ms Adebisi said the principal suspect confessed to being a member of the Aiye Confraternity and provided useful information to investigators.

According to her, efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang and conclude investigations for prosecution.

The spokesperson said items recovered from the hideout included a battle axe, a UTC knife, two other knives, a hammer, and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

She added that suspected criminal charms and other exhibits were also recovered.

Ms Adebisi said the state commissioner of police, Fatai Tijani, warned cultists and other criminal elements to abandon their unlawful activities or face the full weight of the law.

“CP Tijani said there is no hiding place for cultists in Lagos and reiterated the command’s commitment to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting perpetrators of cult-related violence and other crimes,” she said.

The spokesperson reassured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations across the state to curb cultism and violent crimes.

She urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to the police, assuring them that all reports would be treated with strict confidentiality.

“For emergencies or information sharing, call 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, 08080193432 (Marine), and 09168630929,” Ms Adebisi said.

(NAN)