The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 11 students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, over alleged involvement in cult-related activities.
The suspects were arrested following intelligence reports indicating that members of the Eiye Confraternity had allegedly gathered at various locations within the university environment to coordinate attacks capable of causing unrest among students.
Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday.
He said operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit acted swiftly on the intelligence, leading to the arrest of the suspects in the Under-G, Yuako and Adenike areas of Ogbomoso.
According to the police, items recovered during the operation included four locally fabricated pistols, eleven live cartridges, one spent cartridge, two cult axes, a cutlass, a dagger and a cult hood.
Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that all 11 suspects are students of LAUTECH.
The police further stated that some of the suspects allegedly confessed to membership of the Eiye Confraternity and are being investigated for other cult-related offences, including murder.
Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, commended the officers involved in the operation, noting that their prompt intervention prevented what could have escalated into violent clashes within the student community.
The command assured residents that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the group and stated that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
The police also urged members of the public to continue providing useful information to security agencies to support the fight against cultism and violent crime.
