By The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 11 suspected members of the outlawed Eiye Confraternity and recovered firearms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons during an operation that authorities say prevented a planned attack within the student community of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
The arrests followed intelligence indicating that members of the group had assembled at hideouts in the Under-G, Yuako and Adenike areas of Ogbomoso, where they were allegedly planning coordinated attacks capable of disrupting peace on and around the university campus.
Acting on the information, operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) raided the identified locations, foiling the alleged plot before it could be carried out. Eleven male suspects were taken into custody during the operation.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects admitted to belonging to the Eiye Confraternity. Investigators also linked them to alleged cult-related offences, including murder, while confirming that all 11 suspects are students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
Among those arrested are Adedapo Victor, 24, who police identified as the alleged leader of the group, and Taiwo Rasheed, 22, described as the alleged second-in-command. The other suspects are Emeka Issac, Akande Segundo, Akande Julius, Stephen Opeyemi, Fortune Abel, Oluwatunmise Ayodeji, Adigun Oladimeji, Akande Moses and Karim Kalid.
A search of the suspects and their hideout led to the recovery of four locally fabricated pistols, 11 live cartridges, one expended cartridge, two axes allegedly used for cult activities, a cutlass, a dagger and a red hooded cap believed to be associated with the group.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, commended the officers involved in the operation, saying their swift intervention prevented what could have escalated into violent attacks within the university community.
The police command said efforts are ongoing to track down other suspected members of the group who remain at large and assured that those arrested would be charged in court after investigations are concluded.
The command also appealed to residents to continue providing credible and timely information to support ongoing efforts to combat cultism and other violent crimes across the state.
