Lagos State Police Command has arrested 52 suspected cultists in a series of coordinated raids across the state, ahead of the notorious July 7 Cultism Day marked by violent clashes among rival cult groups.
Gatekeepers News reports that the suspects were arrested during preemptive operations in cultist hideouts around Mushin, where they were allegedly preparing to carry out attacks.
The arrests follow credible intelligence suggesting planned mayhem and reprisal assaults on Sunday, July 7.
In a statement on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Command remains fully mobilised to ensure public safety and prevent cult-related violence.
The PRO said the Commissioner of Police, CP Owohunwa Jimoh, had met with anti-cultism squads and tactical commanders to finalise security measures.
The statement reads, “ The Command is fully prepared and fully mobilized the Police Anti Cultism Squads, Special Tactical Squads, the Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Police State Intelligence Department and specially designated units of the Force against violent crimes and cultism to prevent, arrest and prosecute any cultist or gang of cultists before they unleash mayhem, havoc and destruction on lives and property.”
“The Police in furtherance to ensuring the safety of the good people of Lagos has completed and implemented preventive, deterrence and detective strategies to nip in the bud and ensure that the peaceful atmosphere in Lagos State is not distrupted by the cultists under any guise.”
“The Command has deployed massively across the length and breadth of the Lagos State to guarantee the safety of lives and property of all residents and visitors to Lagos State.
The force also adviser parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against involvement in cultism and criminal acts.
The statement added, “Parents and guardians are hereby strongly advised to prevail and counsel their children and wards to steer clear of cultism and all forms of violence and criminalities.”
“The consequences of engaging in such activities are severe, and the Command will not hesitate to apprehend and prosecute offenders in this regard.”
The police encouraged Lagosians to remain calm and continue their daily activities without fear but report any suspicious movement to the nearest station or via the emergency lines: 08063299264 and 08065154338.
