Nineteen suspected cultists accused of terrorising various parts of Ondo State have been nabbed by the men of the Nigeria Police.
The suspected cultists, who were paraded at the state headquarters of the police command in Akure, the state capital, were alleged to belong to the dreaded Eiye and Aiye fraternities.
Also arrested by the police was Salami Aliyu also known as “General Paul” who was said to be a notorious armed robber and cultist terrorising Ore community in the southern senatorial district area of the state.
According to the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, for a long time “General Paul” has been on the wanted list of Nigeria Police in the state.
“At the wee hours of 29th December, 2018, the Policemen in Ore got a tip-off that some suspected armed robbers and cultists who had been on the wanted list of the police, were hibernating at Iroju Area in Ore.
“Policemen from Ore Division immediately stormed the place and arrested some suspected robbers and cultists.
“They thereafter led the police to the arrest of their kingpin and a leader Mr. Salami Aliyu a.k.a General Paul, a notorious armed robber and unrepentant cultist who had been involved in so many violent crimes within Ore and environs,” he said.
While disclosing that the notorious cultist and seven others were arrested at Ore, the PPRO told journalists that 11 cultists were also arrested in various parts of Akure, the state capital.
Joseph emphasized that the arrests were made possible with the cooperation and assistance of Akure youth leaders.
“On the 24th December, officers and men of the Area Commander Akure acting on a tip-off arrested some suspected cultists members at different locations within Akure with the assistant of some youth leaders of Akure community.
“They all confessed to be Eiye and Aiye fraternity,” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the suspected cultists, Afolabi Lukuman denied being a member of any cult gang.
According to him, he was arrested with his friends while returning from a street carnival held within their neighborhood.
Two suspected kidnappers, who were apprehended last week by the police during a raid of Akoko forest, were paraded alongside the suspected cultists.
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