No fewer than 19 suspects have been arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command for robbery and cultism in Sango/Ota and Ifo Local Government Areas of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi stated this in a statement on Friday.

There had been reports of cult clashes and robbery attacks in some parts of the state especially in Ifo, Sango, Owode-Ijako, Joju, Ijoko and Agbado areas during the lockdown in the state.

Oyeyemi said out of the 19 suspects arrested 10 were reportedly apprehended at various locations in Ifo, Kajola and Ososun areas of Ifo Local Government by operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS].

According to the PPRO, other suspects apprehended were Ekunoye lucky, 22, Badmus Sodiq, 27, Showumi Femi,21, Adeagbo Adewumi, 22 and Agboola Femi,21. They were arrested at Ijako in Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

The remaining suspects were nabbed for cultism and robbery at Winner Church area along Idi-Iroko road were Adekunle Okoye, 23, Sulaiman Ogunbiyi, a.k.a  Absorber federal, Saminu Adamu and Nasiru Umar.

According to Oyeyemi, the crisis escalated into robbery and other criminal activities.

Oyeyemi said crisis broke out in Ifo area as a result of supremacy battle between two rival cult groups.

He said,

“The state police command in a bid to nip the crisis in the bud deployed large number of policemen comprises Special Anti-Robbery Squad, anti cultist unit, anti-kidnapping unit as well as conventional policemen drawn from all adjoining police stations.

“The policemen were supervised by the Area Commander, ACP Monday Agbonika later restored normalcy and brought the hoodlums to book.

“In compliance with the directives of the commissioner of police, the teams moved into the area and embarked on aggressive and intelligence-based patrol of the entire area of Ifo, Owode ijako, joju, ijoko and Agbado area.

“Their efforts yielded positive results as five of the hoodlums were apprehended in Ijako area of Sango-Ota, they are Ekunoye lucky, 22, Badmus Sodiq, 27, Showumi Femi, 21, Adeagbo Adewumi, 22 and Agboola Femi,21.

“The patrol team also moved to Winner Church area along Idi-Iroko road where another suspect Adekunle Okeoye, 23 was arrested with a brand new locally made short gun loaded with five live cartridges and assorted charms.

“Also, the operatives extended their operation to Araromi community in Agbado where three other suspects, Sulaiman Ogunbiyi, a.k.a Absorver federal, Saminu Adamu and Nasiru Umar were arrested with face masks and assorted charms.

He said the Commissioner of police, Kenneth Ebrimson has ordered that all the arrested suspects be transferred to Special Anti Robbery Squads for discreet investigation

Oyeyemi said the Commissioner also ordered the continuation of the operation until the last of the hoodlums is arrested.

He said,

“the CP therefore appealed to members of the public not to be unnecessarily apprehensive as the command will continue to do everything within its power to ensure that the good people of Ogun state enjoy adequate security during and after this trying period of our dear country.

“He also enjoined them to reach out to the command through the control room number 08081770416 whenever they are in distress.”