Oyo Police: Policeman Arrested For Cultism, Kidnapping

• A police corporal and eight other suspects were arrested in Oyo State for alleged cultism and kidnapping.
• Corporal Olayinka Oluwatobi, attached to MOPOL 72, was among five suspects apprehended during a raid on an Aiye Confraternity hideout in Ibadan.
• Authorities recovered an English-made Beretta pistol and three locally fabricated pistols during the cultism raid.
• In a separate operation, four individuals were arrested after the rescue of kidnap victim Abubakar Amidu from Oteon/Odi Owo Forest.
• Both cases have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Ibadan for ongoing investigation.

The involvement of a serving policeman in alleged cult activities, particularly within the Aiye Confraternity in Ibadan, raises serious concerns about internal corruption and misconduct within the Oyo State police force.

The Oyo State Police Command recently announced the apprehension of a serving police corporal alongside eight other individuals in connection with separate incidents involving alleged cultism and kidnapping. These arrests, detailed by Force Public Relations Officer Ani Iniedu, highlight ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat organized crime within the state. The operations were conducted by the Command Monitoring Unit, Oyo Operational Base, leading to significant breakthroughs in two distinct criminal investigations.

One of the operations targeted a suspected hideout of the Aiye Confraternity, a notorious cult group, resulting in multiple arrests and the recovery of illegal firearms. Separately, a coordinated rescue mission successfully freed a kidnap victim and led to the capture of several suspects involved in his abduction. Both cases have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Ibadan for further inquiry, with authorities indicating that investigations are still active to identify and apprehend any additional accomplices.

On November 8, 2026, operatives from the Command Monitoring Unit, Oyo Operational Base, executed a targeted raid on a location believed to be a sanctuary for the Aiye Confraternity. This decisive action led to the detention of five individuals, including a uniformed officer, Corporal Olayinka Oluwatobi, identified by his force number F/No. 538195. Corporal Oluwatobi was assigned to MOPOL 72, Ago-Are, and had been seconded to Sports Eleyele in Ibadan, the state capital.

Among the other individuals taken into custody were Ayandiran Samuel, who authorities identified as the fraternity’s armourer, and Adeyinka Qudus, alleged to be the cult leader. During the raid, law enforcement personnel recovered an English-made Beretta pistol and three additional pistols that were locally fabricated, underscoring the armed nature of the group. The involvement of a serving policeman in alleged cult activities, particularly within the Aiye Confraternity in Ibadan, raises serious concerns about internal corruption and misconduct within the Oyo State police force.

In a distinct but equally significant operation, the Command Monitoring Unit, collaborating with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, successfully rescued a 30-year-old man named Abubakar Amidu. Amidu had been abducted on October 31, 2026, and was located and freed unharmed on November 8, 2026, from the Oteon/Odi Owo Forest. This successful rescue operation underscores the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in addressing serious crimes like kidnapping in Oyo.

Following the rescue, four individuals were apprehended in connection with Amidu's abduction. The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Bello, Mohammed Kontagora, Alhaji Ali, and Usman Alhaji Ali. During the course of the operation, authorities also recovered the victim’s mobile phone and the chain and lock that were reportedly used to restrain him, providing crucial evidence for the ongoing investigation into the kidnapping suspects in Oyo.

Both the cultism and kidnapping cases have been officially transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Ibadan, where comprehensive investigations are currently underway. Police officials have confirmed that efforts are continuing to identify and track down any other individuals who may have been involved in either of these criminal enterprises. The dual nature of these arrests—a policeman arrested for cultism and multiple individuals for kidnapping in Oyo—highlights persistent challenges within the region.

This development underscores the ongoing challenges of police misconduct and corruption within Nigerian law enforcement, which criminal defense lawyers should be aware of when assessing the credibility of police evidence or advising clients on interactions with law enforcement in Oyo State. It also highlights the persistent issue of cultism and kidnapping, requiring vigilance from legal practitioners advising on security and criminal matters. The continued pursuit of justice in these cases is crucial for maintaining public trust and safety.

This development underscores the ongoing challenges of police misconduct and corruption within Nigerian law enforcement, which criminal defense lawyers should be aware of when assessing the credibility of police evidence or advising clients on interactions with law enforcement in Oyo State. It also highlights the persistent issue of cultism and kidnapping, requiring vigilance from legal practitioners advising on security and criminal matters.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers