Police Arrest 135 Suspected Cultists, Seize 26 Firearms in Lagos Raids
Lagos police arrested 135 suspected cultists and recovered 26 firearms during coordinated raids targeting criminal hideouts ahead of the July 7 initiation period.
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Lagos police have arrested 135 suspected cultists and recovered 26 firearms in a series of coordinated raids across known criminal hideouts and black spots in the state. The operations, conducted by various units of the police, were aimed at disrupting planned cult-related violence tied to the July 7 (7/7) initiation and celebration period, according to The Whistler.
The raids targeted areas identified as hotspots for illegal activities, with law enforcement moving simultaneously to dismantle networks linked to armed cult groups. No casualties were reported during the operations, which spanned multiple locations across Lagos. The recovered firearms included locally made weapons and other illegal arms, the report indicated.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Abimbola Adebisi, who was featured in the report by The Whistler, confirmed the scale of the operation. The Lagos State Police Command did not provide further details on the identities or affiliations of those arrested. Premium Times corroborated the figures, stating that the coordinated raids led to the arrests and firearm seizures.
Authorities have previously intensified security around July 7 due to a history of violence linked to cult initiation rituals. The latest crackdown underscores ongoing efforts to curb organized armed groups in Nigeria’s most populous city.