Police Arrest Suspected Cultist, Human Traffickers; Recover Arms, Ammunition, and Voter’s Cards

Police Arrest Suspected Cultist, Human Traffickers; Recover Arms, Ammunition, and Voter’s Cards

Operatives of the Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested a suspected cult member and members of a human trafficking syndicate in separate operations. The arrests were made under the directive of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Adegoke M. Fayoade, mni, psc, fisn.

Cultist Arrested in Ogun State

Acting on intelligence reports regarding the criminal activities of suspected members of the EIYE FRATERNITY terrorizing the Ijebu-Ife area of Ogun State, operatives of the Zonal Dragon Squad II (ZDS-II), led by DSP Akeem Adeyemi, conducted a raid on March 19, 2025. During the operation, one Orekoya Abayomi, male, aged 54, was arrested while others escaped into a nearby bush.

A search of his residence led to the recovery of:

• One (1) locally made single-barrel pistol,

• Six (6) live cartridges,

• Twenty-one (21) voter’s cards with different names (suspected to be fake), and

• One (1) Emerald pump-action gun with Breach No. 1335.

Human Trafficking Syndicate Busted in Lagos

On March 22, 2025, operatives of the Zonal Intelligence Response Squad (ZIRS), led by SP Francis Kpoughul, uncovered a human trafficking syndicate operating in the Ipaja/Ayobo area of Lagos State. The team stormed the syndicate’s base in the Command Meran area, arresting Stella Edem (female) and Susan Michael (female).

During interrogation, Stella Edem confessed to recruiting young girls under 22 years old for Anabel (female), a trafficker based in Mauritania. She revealed that she was introduced to the trade by Rosemary Isaiah Otobong (female), who has already been prosecuted and is currently serving a jail term. Edem disclosed that she received a commission of ₦50,000 per girl trafficked and had earned over ₦500,000 so far. Shockingly, she admitted to recruiting her own 19-year-old daughter.

Her accomplice, Susan Michael, stated that she was initially recruited by Edem to find girls for domestic work in Mauritania. However, upon further inquiries, she realized the victims were intended for sex work and withdrew from the scheme. She confessed that she had attempted to send one girl to Edem, but the victim was rejected due to age and body size, raising further suspicions about the operation.

Ongoing Investigation

The police have assured that a thorough investigation is ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of inquiries.

Official Statement

E-SIGNED
CSP AYUBA T. UMMA, anipr
ZONAL POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
ZONE 2 COMMAND HEADQUARTERS,
ONIKAN, LAGOS