Police say suspected Eiye Confraternity members were arrested before planned attacks in Ogbomoso, with firearms, ammunition and other weapons recovered
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 11 students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, over their alleged involvement in cult-related activities after operatives foiled what police described as planned attacks within the university community.
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The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation carried out by officers attached to the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade.
Police alleged that the suspects are members of the Eiye Confraternity and were arrested while allegedly planning coordinated attacks capable of disrupting peace within the student community.
The suspects were identified as Adedapo Victor, 24, alleged leader of the group; Taiwo Rasheed, 22, alleged second-in-command; Emeka Issac, 20; Akande Segundo, 26; Akande Julius, 26; Stephen Opeyemi, 24; Fortune Abel, 22; Oluwatunmise Ayodeji, 22; Adigun Oladimeji, 32; Akande Moses, 28; and Karim Kalid, 20.
According to Ayanlade, the operation was launched after police received credible intelligence indicating that suspected members of the Eiye Confraternity had gathered at hideouts in the Under-G, Yuako and Adenike areas of Ogbomoso.
“Acting on credible intelligence received by the command, operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit were deployed after it was established that members of the dreaded Eiye Confraternity had converged at their hideout within the Under-G, Yuako, and Adenike areas, where they were allegedly perfecting plans to launch coordinated attacks within the student community capable of causing widespread unrest,” Ayanlade said.
He added that officers moved swiftly to the identified locations and prevented the alleged attacks before they could be carried out.
“On arrival at the identified locations, the operatives swiftly intervened and successfully foiled the planned attacks before they could be executed, leading to the arrest of 11 male suspects,” he said.
Police said a search of the suspects and their hideout 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 and a red hooded cap allegedly associated with the confraternity.
According to the command, the suspects allegedly admitted during preliminary interrogation that they were members of the Eiye Confraternity.
Police further claimed that initial investigations linked them to several cult-related offences, including murder. Those allegations have not been tested in court.
Investigators also established that all 11 suspects are students of LAUTECH, Ayanlade said.
Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, commended the officers involved for what he described as their professionalism and swift intervention in averting violence within the university community.
“The CP further assured that the command remains committed to ensuring that all individuals connected to the criminal network are brought to justice, as efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate,” Ayanlade stated.
The police said the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations and appealed to residents to continue providing credible information to support the fight against cultism and other violent crimes.
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Cult-related violence has remained a recurring security challenge in several tertiary institutions across Nigeria, prompting law enforcement agencies and university authorities to intensify surveillance and intelligence-driven operations aimed at preventing clashes, protecting students and maintaining order on campuses.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
