Two suspected cultists arrested in Lagos

Friday, September 12, 2025 - The Lagos State Police Command said its operatives arrested two suspected cultists with a gun in the Akoka area of the state in a crackdown operation targeting criminal elements.

This is just as it refuted claims that three people died as a result of a cult clash in the Lakowe area of Ibeju-Lekki.

The command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, disclosed this in an exclusive response to Punch enquiry on cult activities in the state on Thursday.

The arrest is coming on the heels of the recent cult clashes in different parts of the state that have claimed no fewer than five lives.

Some sections of the media had reported that one person identified as Tope was shot dead in the Lakowe area of the state.

The report noted that the ensuing pandemonium that trailed the incident resulted in the death of two others who were knocked down by a moving vehicle while trying to escape.

Reacting to the incident, Oluseyi disclosed that the report was a false alarm and no such incident was recorded in the area.

He said, “The Lakowe report is a false alarm.”

He, however, stated that two suspected cultists were arrested by operatives in the Akoka area on Tuesday.

“On 09/09/2025 at about 2300hrs, following a distress call from Akoka, Lagos State, reporting the presence of suspected cultists, police operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene.

“On sighting the officers, the suspects attempted to flee but were given a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects with a cut-to-size double-barrelled pistol, two cartridges, one UTC knife, and a long cutlass.

The suspects are currently in custody, the case has been transferred to the Anti-Cultism Unit, Area H, for further investigation, and subsequent developments will be communicated in due course,” Oluseyi said.

Within the last two weeks, no fewer than five persons have been killed in different cult clashes that occurred in the Ibeju-Lekki and Ajah areas of the state.

The clashes, which often stemmed from unresolved disputes and superiority claims, seem to be escalating beyond control.

Last week, three people were killed during a masquerader festival in the Ajah area, an incident which was attributed to a cult clash.