The Ondo State Police Command has arrested 25 suspected cultists after foiling a planned initiation ceremony in the state.
The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists in Akure, stating that the arrests followed credible intelligence received from a concerned citizen.
According to the statement, the information revealed that members of the Neo Black Movement cult group were planning to initiate new members at Uso, Owo local government area of Ondo State.
Acting promptly on the tip-off, the police deployed operatives using intelligence-driven strategies to prevent the ceremony from taking place.
Jimoh said the operation resulted in the arrest of 25 suspects drawn from Ondo, Osun, Lagos and Edo states.
He added that a Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle and an unregistered Daylong motorcycle were recovered from the suspects at the scene.
The spokesman noted that the suspects are presently in police custody and have confessed to their involvement in cult-related activities.
He added that they would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
Commending the operatives for their swift response and professionalism, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Adebowale Lawal, said the command remained resolute in its fight against cultism and other criminal activities.
The police boss warned youths against engaging in cultism, stressing that such acts offer no benefit but only lead to severe consequences.
He also assured residents of Ondo State of the command’s continued commitment to ensuring peace and security, while calling on members of the public to sustain the supply of credible and actionable intelligence to assist the police in curbing crime across the state.