The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 22 individuals, including two soldiers, in a midnight raid targeting suspected cultists at Hilton Hotel in Osiele, Abeokuta.
The operation, which took place on Friday night, was executed by the Anti-Cultism Unit of the command in collaboration with other tactical teams.
In a statement released on Saturday, Police Public Relations Officer CSP Omolola Odutola disclosed that the raid was based on actionable intelligence concerning cult-related activities in the area.
“Acting on credible intelligence, a joint team comprising operatives from Odeda Division, Aregbe Division, the Anti-Cultism Unit, and SWAT, led by SP Adejoh Israel, stormed the location at about 2020hrs on 25th July, 2025,” Odutola stated.
“The operation was targeted at suspected members of the Aiye confraternity gathered at the hotel. In the course of the operation, twenty-two (22) suspects were arrested, including two (2) soldiers, nineteen (19) male suspects, and three (3) females.”
Items reportedly recovered from the suspects include a cut-to-size locally made firearm, a UTC axe, and multiple blue berets linked to the Aiye cult group.
Odutola confirmed that the suspects have been transferred to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran for further questioning and investigation. She also noted that the operation was carried out without any casualties.
Reaffirming the command’s dedication to curbing cultism and related crimes, she called on residents to support law enforcement efforts through timely and accurate information.
“The state police command remains resolute in its fight against cultism and other violent crimes and urges residents to continue providing useful information to aid ongoing operations,” Odutola said.
