Suspected cultists arrested, firearms recovered in Kwara crackdown

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested several suspected members of secret cult groups in Ilorin and recovered firearms, charms, and other items believed to have been used in criminal activities across the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Adekimi Ojo, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday in Ilorin, highlighting recent breakthroughs recorded by the command in its ongoing operations against cultism and other violent crimes.

Ojo said the arrests followed an intensive investigation launched after a fatal cult-related incident that occurred earlier this year in the Kulende area of the state capital.

“Following the cult-related incident that occurred in front of Imam Filling Station, Kulende Area, Ilorin, on January 6, 2026, at about 2240hrs, where one Victor Mathew Nwachukwu, 28, was shot dead by a group of suspected cultists, the Command immediately launched an intensive investigation through the Anti-Cultism Unit,” he said.

The investigation led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Abdulrasheed Hammed, popularly known as “Baniq”; Abdulganeen Abdulafeez, also known as “Jagaban” or “Fizco”; and Muhammed Nuhu Wahab, popularly called “Honorable.”

According to the commissioner, the suspects confessed during interrogation to being members of rival cult groups operating within Ilorin metropolis.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the Aiye and Alora secret cult confraternities operating within the Ilorin metropolis,” Ojo said.

He added that several weapons and items linked to cult activities were recovered from the suspects.

“Items recovered from the suspects include one locally made silver pistol with two live rounds of ammunition, one locally made shotgun, and one locally crafted pump-action single-barrel firearm,” he stated.

Other items recovered, according to the police chief, include two large portrait images bearing the insignia of the Neo-Black Movement secret cult, two battle-axes, and assorted charms suspected to be used for criminal fortification.

“Further investigation revealed that one of the recovered firearms, a locally crafted pump-action single-barrel gun, belonged to Abdulganeen Abdulafeez,” he said.
The commissioner also revealed that another suspect, Sofiullahi Ibrahim Idowu, popularly known as “ID,” was arrested in connection with a separate cult-related disturbance in the Olunlade area of Ilorin.

He explained that the suspect was apprehended on December 24, 2025, after a distress call reported that suspected cultists had stormed the Oke-Bonke community and engaged residents in a violent confrontation.

“Upon arrival, one Sofiullahi Ibrahim Idowu was sighted cocking a locally made short gun and aiming it directly at a police officer who was part of the responding patrol team,” Ojo said.

“The suspect was swiftly overpowered, arrested and disarmed, and a locally made short gun with one live cartridge was recovered as exhibits,” he added.

According to the commissioner, the suspect later confessed that he was formerly the number one leader of the Eiye confraternity in the Olunlade axis of Ilorin.

Ojo assured residents that the police command remains committed to dismantling cult groups and preventing further violence in communities across the state.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects believed to have directly participated in the fatal shooting, as well as other members of the cult groups currently at large,” he said.