Police command in Kwara has arrested five suspected cult members following a major intelligence-driven operation by the Violent Crimes Response Unit.

The command’s spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said in a statement on Tuesday that the major field operation was conducted at Kilanko and Post Office black spots in Ilorin metropolis, targeting suspected cultists’ hideouts and criminal enclaves linked to violent activities.

‎Ms Ejire-Adeyemi stated, “Acting on credible intelligence and in line with the policing vision of the inspector general of police, IGP Tunji Rilwan Disu psc(+), NPM, operatives of the unit, in collaboration with community policing stakeholders and the VGN Special Squad led by Kayode Usman, executed a coordinated operation that led to the disruption of identified criminal hideouts.”

She noted that the unit arrested a suspect, AbdulRahman Jimoh, aka ‘Kangol’—a notorious suspected cultist who had long been on the unit’s watchlist for his alleged involvement in various cult-related activities and other violent crimes within the Ilorin metropolis.

“A search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of suspected hard drugs. In a related sweep at Kilanko, four additional suspected cult members were also arrested,” Ms Ejire-Adeyemi added.

Noting that the operation underscored the unit’s sustained intelligence-driven approach to tracking, disrupting and neutralizing violent criminal elements across the state, Ms Ejire-Adeyemi said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

‎The police commissioner, Ojo Adekimi, commended the operatives of the VCRU for their professionalism, courage, swift response and commitment to intelligence-driven policing in the fight against violent crimes across the state.