Nab six suspected cultists, recover weapons in Ondo

Two suspects have been arrested by the Yobe State Police Command for allegedly killing a day-old baby in Damaturu, the state capital, and other offences.
   
Condemning the act, the command noted with concern the incidents involving abandoned newborn babies, reiterating that every child has inherent rights under the law and deserves protection, care and dignity.  
  
In a statement yesterday, the spokesperson for the command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, warned that any person found culpable of violating such rights would be made to face the full weight of the law.
   
According to him, “on June 23, 2026, at about 4:10 a.m., the Violent Crime Response Unit of the Command responded to a distress call regarding the alleged killing of a newborn baby girl and subsequent concealment of the remains.”
   
He added that preliminary investigation revealed that a female suspect, who recently gave birth to the baby, was allegedly involved in the strangling of the child, and its remains were concealed in a box before being abandoned behind a mosque at Anguwar Boka area of Damaturu. ”
   
Abdulkarim said the police swiftly acted and eventually arrested two suspects, who he said were currently assisting the investigation.  
   
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Usman Jibrin, described the incident as a heinous and inhuman act, stressing that every human life is precious and must be protected.
   
In another incident in Ondo State, security operatives early yesterday arrested six suspected cultists during an operation by the Special Anti-Cultism Squad (SACS) operatives.
   
The command identified the suspects as Damilare Kayode, 30, Adejoro Godwin, 30, Adedapo Ogunro, 36, Chisom Okechukwu, 21, Ademulegun Imisi, 26, and Odugunle Bukola, 21.
   
Command’s spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended in Akungba and Iwaro-Akoko in the Akoko South West Local Council of the state following an intel on the activities of the suspected cultists in the axis.
   
According to Jimoh, the suspects were allegedly inzZZvolved in activities linked to unlawful confraternities within the Akoko axis, which had recently faced security challenges. He added that “a thorough search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of several exhibits believed to be connected with cult-related activities.
   
“These include five battle axes, a jackknife, various criminal charms, as well as confraternity paraphernalia such as boots, yellow singlets, and faze caps,” Jimoh stated.

“The recovered items have been taken into police custody as exhibits and will form part of the ongoing investigation.”
   
He further disclosed that intelligence from the operation was being analysed to identify other members of the group and uncover the full extent of their activities within and beyond the affected communities.