Police arrest three students over suspected cult initiation in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested three secondary school students over a suspected cult initiation in Owode-Yewa, Ogun State, recovering weapons and other items during the operation.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, on Friday, the suspects, aged 12, 18 and 18, were arrested following intelligence about a planned cult-related activity tagged “Kito Day”, allegedly involving students from different secondary schools in the area.

The police said the operation followed information received on October 22, prompting the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Owode-Yewa to swiftly deploy detectives, in collaboration with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, to the scene.

The operation led to the arrest of the three suspects and the recovery of an English axe, two knives, a short cutlass, a rubber toy gun and a school bag.

The command said the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The development has once again drawn attention to concerns over the involvement of young people in suspected cult-related activities and the need for concerted efforts by security agencies, schools, parents and communities to prevent the recruitment of students into criminal groups.