Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have arrested 11 students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, for alleged involvement in cultism and conspiracy to launch violent attacks.

The suspects, identified as members of the Eiye Confraternity, were apprehended at their hideouts in the Under-G, Yuako, and Adenike areas of Ogbomoso following credible intelligence.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the arrests on Friday. He stated that the suspects were perfecting plans to launch coordinated attacks within the student community before the command`s Violent Crime Response Unit intervened.

"On arrival at the identified locations, the operatives swiftly intervened and successfully foiled the planned attacks before they could be executed," Ayanlade said.

The police named the suspects as Adedapo Victor, 24 (alleged leader); Taiwo Rasheed, 22 (alleged second-in-command); Emeka Issac, 20; Akande Segundo, 26; Akande Julius, 26; Stephen Opeyemi, 24; Fortune Abel, 22; Oluwatunmise Ayodeji, 22; Adigun Oladimeji, 32; Akande Moses, 28; and Karim Kalid, 20.

A search of the hideout yielded an array of weapons and incriminating items. Police recovered four locally fabricated cut-to-size pistols, 11 live cartridges, one expended cartridge, two cult axes, a cutlass, a dagger knife, and a red cult hooded cap.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects voluntarily confessed to their membership in the Eiye Confraternity. The police also linked the group to previous cult-related criminal activities, including murder.

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, commended the operatives for their prompt action. He assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend fleeing members of the syndicate, adding that all suspects will face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.