Trending 
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 11 students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) over their alleged involvement in cult-related activities and recovered firearms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons during an intelligence-led operation.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed in a statement on Friday that the arrests followed credible intelligence indicating that suspected members of the Eiye Confraternity had gathered at hideouts in the Under-G, Yuako and Adenike areas of Ogbomoso.
According to the police, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit were deployed after intelligence suggested the group was allegedly planning coordinated attacks within the student community that could have triggered widespread unrest.
The operation led to the arrest of 11 male suspects before the alleged attacks could be carried out.
Police said a search of the suspects and their hideouts resulted in the recovery of four locally fabricated cut-to-size pistols, 11 live cartridges, one expended cartridge, two cult axes, one cutlass, one dagger knife and a red cult hooded cap believed to be linked to the group’s activities.
The suspects were taken into custody, where police said they voluntarily confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity. Preliminary investigations also allegedly linked them to several cult-related offences, including murder.
Further investigations confirmed that all 11 suspects are students of LAUTECH.
Reacting to the operation, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, commended the professionalism and swift response of the operatives, noting that their intervention prevented what could have escalated into violent attacks within the university community.
The police said investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the suspected criminal network, adding that the arrested suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The command also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support efforts the fight against cultism and other violent crimes across the state, while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining public safety and order.
