The Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Police has stated that it is prepared to crack down on cultists and illegal gun makers in the state.
In addition, the police paraded 42 alleged cultists who had been detained over the previous two weeks in various regions of the state.
Idowu Owohunwa, the state’s commissioner of police, revealed this on Wednesday while leading a procession of suspected cult members who had been detained throughout the state.
The alleged cultists were detained by several teams of the Tactical Squads in the state’s Ikorodu, Ijora, and Ebute-Metta regions, according to the police chief.
According to CP Owphunwa, “We have decided not only to arrest cultists but to go after the fabricators of arms to nip attacks on innocent people or their perceived enemies in the bud.”
“Today, 42 alleged cultists are being paraded. The war will be fought right up to their front doors or enclaves.
“We will use every resource at our disposal. We will not allow them to have a presence in the state. Therefore, we warn them that if they don’t turn a new leaf, the Police will be angry.
We want to reassure Lagos citizens that the fight to cleanse the state of cultists and other criminals is a commitment that must be kept, C P Owohunwa further stated.
“Since the fight against cults and other criminals is a common one, we ask the public for their help. From the cultists, ten weapons, knives, thirteen live rounds, and several charms were found.
“We also want to deploy our unique intelligence assets,” the police chief continued, “because the orientation is that we do not wait until the cultists strike.”
“In order to bring peace back to Lagos, we want to stay one step ahead of them. Within the first two weeks of the operation, the officers assigned for it, we made major advancements that warrant public announcement. And CP Owohinwa said.
“In this regard, with assistance from the anti-cultism operatives, we have arrested 42 cultists in Orile, Ijora, Ebute-Metta and Ikorodu,” he noted.
In addition, CP Owohunwa reported that “ten weapons of various types were recovered from the cultists during the raid, including six shotguns built locally, three constructed semi-automatic pistols, and one English-made pistol. thirteen live bullets, three knives, three cutlasses, three daggers, and other charms.
In keeping with the pledge I made to Lagos residents, I wish to warn the cults. We will deploy all of our operational resources, and I will offer the leadership necessary to continue the fight against the cults who pose a threat to the state’s internal security.
“The Lagos State Command under my watch will deny them the space with a forceful manner,” the CP promised. I want to reassure the locals that we won’t back down.
