The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspected cultists following a violent clash between rival groups in Onireke and Isashi areas of Badagry.
Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday, saying the suspects, aged between 28 and 43, were caught during a coordinated operation that stopped further bloodshed and restored calm in the affected communities.
“Police responded to a distress call around 10 pm on Saturday, reporting a clash between rival cult groups in Onireke and Isashi,” Adebisi said.
According to her, tactical teams and detectives were quickly deployed to the scene, where they rescued three injured victims who were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
“Sadly, one of the victims was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty at Badagry General Hospital,” she added.
The police spokesperson explained that officers raided the area shortly after, leading to the arrest of five suspects believed to be connected to the attack.
Items recovered from the suspects included one locally made pistol, two pump-action guns, 52 live cartridges, two expended cartridges, a Toyota Avalon car (KTU 610 JB), a laptop, phones, and other dangerous weapons.
Adebisi said the suspects remain in custody and will be prosecuted after investigations are completed. She added that efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the cult groups still at large, while security patrols have been increased to prevent further violence.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, commended the swift response of the operatives and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling cultism and related crimes across the state.
Jimoh urged residents to remain law-abiding, stay alert, and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
