ISARA-REMO, Nigeria — Police in Nigeria’s Ogun State say they have broken up a suspected cult initiation procession in Isara-Remo, arresting 30 men and recovering vehicles and ritual items.
The operation was carried out Tuesday afternoon by the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), working with detectives from the Isara Area Command and Division, according to a Thursday statement from police spokesman DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi. Officers stormed an uncompleted building where the suspects had gathered for chanting, drinking, and initiation activities.
The suspects, whose names were released by police, were taken into custody and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abeokuta. Four vehicles abandoned during the attempted escape were recovered, along with a jack knife, a local drum, a “sekere” rattle, and bottles believed to have been used for alcohol consumption.
Ogun State Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni praised the swift response, calling the raid “a clear demonstration of the command’s sustained intelligence-led policing strategy and zero tolerance for violent crime and unlawful assemblies.” He urged residents to report suspicious gatherings.
Cult-related violence has long plagued southwestern Nigeria, particularly in Ogun and Lagos states, where rival groups often clash during initiation rites or territorial disputes. In 2023, police in Abeokuta arrested dozens of suspected cultists after a violent initiation ceremony left several injured. Similar crackdowns have been reported in Lagos, Oyo, and Osun states, where cult groups are linked to extortion, drug use, and violent crime.
On social media, many Ogun residents applauded the arrests, describing cultism as a “cancer” threatening youth development. Others expressed concern about due process, urging authorities to ensure suspects are fairly tried. Civil society groups have repeatedly called for stronger community engagement and youth empowerment programs to reduce recruitment into cult groups.
Security analysts say the persistence of cultism reflects deeper social issues, including unemployment, peer pressure, and weak enforcement of anti-cult laws. Stakeholders in education and religious institutions have also urged government to intensify awareness campaigns, warning that cult groups often lure students and vulnerable youths with promises of protection and belonging.
The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, with police vowing to prosecute those found culpable.
