Police disrupt initiation rites and arrest 24 suspected “Aiye” cult members in Ondo.

The Ondo State Police Command arrested 24 suspected cultists while they were conducting initiation rites in the state.

Police say the individuals, believed to belong to the ‘Aiye’ confraternity, were seized in Ile-Oluji, the administrative centre of the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area.

Police Public Relations Officer Abayomi Jimoh said the suspects were intercepted after the command received credible intelligence about the illegal gathering.

He added that, upon receiving the actionable intelligence, operatives from the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Akure were promptly dispatched and subsequently rounded up the suspects in the bush where the initiation rites were taking place.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the male suspects had traveled from various parts of the state and other regions to attend the initiation rites and a clandestine cult meeting held in a bush within Ile-Oluji town.

“The operation was executed professionally and without incident, thereby preventing what could have posed a serious threat to public peace and security in the area.

“Items recovered from the suspects during the operation include two Aiye confraternity crested caps, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and several mobile phones believed to be relevant to ongoing investigations.”