By Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have disrupted a suspected cult gathering within The Polytechnic Ibadan, arresting 16 individuals and recovering weapons in a coordinated operation.
The operation, carried out on Tuesday, April 29, followed intelligence reports indicating that members of the Aiye Confraternity were planning a strategic meeting at a location described as their “temple” within the institution. Acting on the information, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, led a team of operatives to the scene after securing approval from the school authorities.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the raid was executed “with precision and professionalism” to forestall any security threat within the campus and its environs.
He noted that a total of sixteen suspects, fourteen males and two females, were apprehended during the operation “at and around the meeting point.” Police sources disclosed that some of those arrested had previously been on the Command’s watchlist for alleged involvement in cult-related violence and murder cases across the state.
Items recovered from the suspects include two locally made guns, two pistols, sixteen live cartridges, four axes, and assorted charms, raising concerns about the scale and intent of the planned gathering.
“The Command wishes to assure members of the public that investigation is ongoing to unravel the full extent of the suspects’ activities and to apprehend other fleeing accomplices,” the statement read.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga, reiterated its commitment to tackling cultism and violent crimes, urging residents to remain vigilant and continue to support security agencies with credible information.
The police added that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
