Authorities in Ondo State have apprehended a suspect allegedly involved in a recent rival cult clash in Ondo town.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, spokesperson for the Ondo Police Command, Olayinka Olushola, revealed that the individual is “believed to be involved in a series of violent cult-related attacks in Ondo town, including the recent brutal assault on innocent civilians at a public viewing centre.”
According to the statement, the suspect was arrested at his hideout following weeks of intelligence gathering and a carefully coordinated tactical operation by police operatives. His identity is currently being withheld pending the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the suspect played a key role in an earlier attack, which led to the killing of members of a rival cult group in Ondo town earlier this year.”
Authorities also confirmed that the suspect had previously been linked to an incident at Template Bar and Club, Ondo, on 13th July 2025, where suspected cultists indiscriminately opened fire at football fans, causing several injuries.
“This reckless act not only endangered the lives of peace-loving residents but also posed a direct threat to public peace and safety—the very values the Command remains steadfast in preserving,” the statement noted.
The suspect is currently undergoing interrogation, while police say efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other fleeing members of the gang.
Recovered items include an English-made Beretta pistol with five rounds of 3mm live ammunition, a locally made pistol with two cartridges, three battle axes, three cutlasses, two daggers/knives, cult insignias such as berets, jackets, face caps, and a local lamp, along with various charms and substances suspected to be Indian Hemp.
The police further disclosed that 30 male suspected cultists were arrested between June and July 2025, all of whom have been charged to court.
As part of its intensified crackdown on cultism, the command said it recorded major success during the 7/7 cult anniversary period — a date known for violent confrontations between rival groups.
“Due to proactive policing, intelligence-led operations, and the strategic deployment of personnel across identified flashpoints, no cult-related violence was recorded during the period,” the statement concluded.