The Osun State Police Command has arrested three suspected cult members and recovered firearms, charms and other weapons during separate operations in the state.
It stated on Tuesday that suspects were also being investigated for alleged involvement in political thuggery and other criminal activities.
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Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.
According to the statement, the suspects were identified as Adekola Olayinka Abdulazeez, 27; Omolara Ezekiel, 28; and Babatunde Azeez, 32. The police said the operation began on 22 May when a patrol team attached to the Ikirun Area Command intercepted Mr Abdulazeez while conducting a routine stop-and-search operation.
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The suspect was reportedly riding an unregistered motorcycle when security operatives stopped and searched him. During the search, officers allegedly recovered two Beretta pistols, an axe, and charms from his possession.
The police said the case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation. According to investigators, the suspect allegedly confessed during interrogation to being a member of a confraternity.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and further mentioned one Omolara Ezekiel ‘m’ 28yrs and Babatunde Azeez ‘m’ 32yrs as his accomplices.”
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The command said the suspect further informed investigators that he was on his way to deliver the weapons to another suspected member of the group before his arrest. It also noted that intelligence gathered from the investigation led to the arrest of Mr Ezekiel and another suspect, Mr Azeez.
Searches conducted at locations linked to the suspects also led to the recovery of four cutlasses, two axes and two live cartridges in a subsequent operation, according to the police.
“After receiving the above information, investigation team immediately went after the accomplices, where the suspects were apprehended and upon search on them one Bereta Pistol, One short cut to size gun, three axes, four cutlasses and charms were recovered.”
The command said investigations into the case are ongoing. It also it is intensifying to identify and arrest other persons connected to the suspects.
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“Investigation is ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members, and all the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigation,” the statement said, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Gotan, warned political thugs, cult groups and other criminal elements against activities capable of disrupting public peace.
This comes amid preparation for the 15 August governorship election in the state.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking reelection for second term, is contesting as Accord’s candidate.
The governor is up against major political parties like the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is fielding Bola Oyebanji as its candidate in a scramble to regain control of the state, which it lost to Mr Ademola as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in 2022.
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