Three suspected cultists and one motorcycle thief have been arrested within the Osogbo metropolis by operatives of the Osun State Police Command and hunters.
A resident of the Alekuwodo area of Osogbo, the state capital, who identified himself simply as Adebayo, during an interview with newsmen on Thursday, said the suspected cultists had been terrorising residents of the area for some time until they were apprehended by the police, who acted on a tip-off.
He said the suspects had assembled in the area for a meeting when men of the Osun Anti-Cultism Squad swooped on them and apprehended three of the suspected cultists, while others fled the scene.
The Osun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, who confirmed the arrest during an interview with our correspondent, said those apprehended had attacked some people around 12.30pm at the Alekuwodo area when operatives, responding to a distress call, apprehended them.
Opalola further said, “We received information from members of the public that the hoodlums suspected to be members of an unlawful society were terrorising the Alekuwodo area, Osogbo.
“Immediately the information was received, detectives from the Anti-Cultism Unit swung into action and apprehended three suspects, while others took to their heels. The three of them confessed to being members of the Aye Confraternity.”
Similarly, one Sodiq, said to be a member of a notorious gang of robbers that specialises in snatching motorcycles, was also arrested at the Ilesa Garage area of Osogbo.
It was gathered that operatives of the Osun police command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit and men of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, who were on patrol in the area, arrested the suspect.
After his arrest, as other members of the gang fled the scene, some eyewitnesses in the area said three motorcycles were recovered from Sodiq by the police.
The police spokesperson, who also confirmed the arrest, said efforts would be geared towards arresting other fleeing members of the gang.