.Recover pistol, battle axe during raid.
Launch manhunt on fleeing suspects.
Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a suspected cult leader, Boluwatife Abdul, who is a student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).
Abdul, allegedly known as a notorious cultist within the axis of the university environment, was arrested while holding a clandestine meeting with members of the confraternity group.
While confirming the arrest of the suspect, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed that the suspect has, for a while, been on the watchlist of the command.
According to Ayanlade, the arrest of Abdul was part of the efforts of the command in its onslaught against cult-related activities across tertiary institutions in the state.
While stating that the command had launched a manhunt for the other fleeing members of the group, the police spokesperson revealed that dangerous weapons were recovered during the arrest.
He said, “Following credible information received from a good-spirited member of the public that some unknown young men had gathered within the premises of A.U.D. Secondary School, Akungba, holding a clandestine meeting and chanting slang identified to be cult-related, police operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene.
“Upon sighting the police, the suspects took to their heels, but one, Abdul Boluwatife ‘m’, was given a hot chase and subsequently arrested.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of a known cult group and further revealed himself to be the leader of the group within Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).
“Findings have also revealed that the suspect, who is now in custody, is a notorious cultist terrorising Akungba and its environs and has been on the watchlist of the Command for a considerable period of time.
“A thorough search and follow-up investigation led to the recovery of the following items: one (1) locally fabricated pistol, five (5) big cutlasses, one (1) battle axe, one (1) shisha box, two (2) cult berets, five (5) bottles of Squadron gin, one (1) red knife, and one (1) black hand glove.
“The suspect is currently in custody while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the cult group. The Anti-Cultism Squad of the Command has since commenced a discreet investigation to unravel the full network of the cult syndicate operating within the area.”