In a dramatic midnight raid that jolted Abeokuta awake, operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested two soldiers and twenty others suspected to be members of a notorious cult group. The raid, carried out on Friday night at the upscale Hilton Hotel in Osiele, Abeokuta, underscores a renewed police onslaught against cultism and violent crimes across the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Omolola Odutola, made this known in an official statement dispatched to journalists on Saturday, revealing the coordinated operation was hinged on “credible and actionable intelligence.”
“Acting on a tip-off, a combined tactical team made up of personnel from the Odeda and Aregbe Divisions, the Anti-Cultism Unit, and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) squad—led by the seasoned officer, SP Adejoh Israel—stormed the premises at approximately 8:20 p.m. on July 25, 2025,” Odutola stated.
The target? An alleged midnight meeting of the Aiye Confraternity, a deadly and widespread cult group known for its ruthless operations.
By the end of the operation, twenty-two suspects were rounded up, including two serving soldiers, nineteen male civilians, and three females, believed to be affiliates of the group. No injuries or casualties were recorded during the tactical swoop.
Items recovered from the scene include:
One cut-to-size locally fabricated firearm
A UTC battle axe
Several blue beret caps, commonly associated with the Aiye cult group
“The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Anti-Cultism Unit, Eleweran, for comprehensive investigation and possible prosecution,” Odutola noted.
She further reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to stamping out cultism and violent crimes across the state, while calling on the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to law enforcement.
“Our success lies in the synergy with the public. We urge citizens to continue providing timely and useful information. Together, we will keep Ogun safe,” she affirmed.
The arrest of the two military personnel among the suspects adds a disturbing twist to the case, raising concerns about the infiltration of criminal networks within security agencies. Security analysts are already calling for a broader investigation and military cooperation to determine the depth of the soldiers’ involvement.
This operation marks another significant milestone in Ogun State’s fight against the scourge of cultism—a menace that has terrorized many communities and claimed countless lives over the years.
PIONEER NEWS 