Police Stop Cult Initiation in Ondo Community, Arrest 25
The Ondo State Police Command has disrupted an alleged cult initiation ceremony in Uso, a community in Owo Local Government Area, arresting 25 suspected cultists during the operation.
The arrests followed intelligence received from a concerned citizen who alerted the police to plans by members of the Neo Black Movement to initiate new members in the area.
Acting on the information, police operatives moved to the location on Thursday, January 8, and successfully halted the exercise.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Akure, the state capital, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the suspects were apprehended through an intelligence-driven operation coordinated by the command.
“Acting swiftly on the information, operatives of the command were mobilised and deployed using intelligence-led tactics to disrupt the planned initiation.
“The operation resulted in the arrest of 25 suspects, drawn from Ondo, Osun, Edo, and Lagos states, at the scene of the initiation.
“During the operation, one Toyota Highlander SUV and one unregistered Daylong motorcycle were recovered from the suspects.
“The arrested suspects are currently in police custody and have confessed to their involvement in cult-related activities. They will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” Jimoh said.
He added that the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Adebowale Lawal, commended the operatives for their swift response, professionalism, and dedication to duty, describing the operation as a major boost to the command’s anti-cultism efforts.
According to Jimoh, the CP reaffirmed the command’s resolve to sustain its clampdown on cult activities across the state and expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his strategic leadership and support, which he said has strengthened policing operations in Ondo State.
“The CP advises youths to shun all forms of cultism and emphasises that there is no gain in engaging in such acts, as they only lead to grave consequences.
“He reassures residents of Ondo State of the command’s proactive commitment to maintaining a peaceful and crime-free environment and urges members of the public to continue providing credible and actionable information that will aid the police in preventing and combating crime across the state,” Jimoh said.
