The Osun State Police Command has arrested six suspected cultists allegedly terrorising Osogbo and neighbouring communities.

Command spokesman, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Friday, noting that the operation was part of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan’s renewed crackdown on cultism and other criminal activities in the state.

According to the statement, two suspects, identified by their nicknames “Orife” and “Aga”, both aged 29, were arrested on August 21 during a student union week at one of the higher institutions in the state, following intelligence reports.

“They confessed to being members of Aiye and Buccaneer confraternities (Alora), respectively,” Ojelabi said.

Similarly, on August 19, four suspected cultists were apprehended in Okuku Town after detectives from the anti-cultism unit acted on credible information. The suspects reportedly confessed to belonging to the Aiye confraternity.

In another operation, police stormed the hideouts of armed hoodlums believed to be members of the Eiye confraternity, led by a man identified as “Gafari”, who had been terrorising residents of Gbeja and Oke-Baale areas of Osogbo.

Though the suspects fled on sighting security operatives, the police recovered dangerous weapons, including a cut-to-size single-barrel gun, a cut-to-size double-barrel gun, five cutlasses, an axe, and three live cartridges.

Ojelabi said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gang members, adding that all arrested suspects would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

The Commissioner of Police, Gotan, cautioned students across the state to steer clear of cultism and focus on their education, warning that the law would deal decisively with anyone caught engaging in cult-related activities.