The Kwara State Police Command says operatives of the newly established Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU) have arrested a wanted suspected cultist and four others during an intelligence-led operation in Ilorin.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the operation was carried out on May 18, 2026, at identified black spots in the Kilanko and Post Office areas of the Ilorin metropolis.
The police said the operation targeted suspected cultists’ hideouts and criminal enclaves linked to violent crimes across the state.
The statement noted that the operation was conducted based on credible intelligence and aligned with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Rilwan Disu.
According to the command, operatives of the VCRU, working alongside community policing stakeholders and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) Special Squad led by Kayode Usman, disrupted several identified criminal hideouts during the raid.
One of the suspects arrested was AbdulRahman Jimoh, popularly known as “Kangol,” who the police described as a notorious suspected cultist allegedly linked to cult-related activities and other violent crimes within Ilorin.
Police said the suspect was arrested around 9 p.m. at the Post Office area, adding that suspected hard drugs were recovered from him during a search.
The command further disclosed that four additional suspected cult members were arrested during a related operation in Kilanko.
The police said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects would be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations.
Commending the officers involved in the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, praised the VCRU personnel for their professionalism, courage, and commitment to intelligence-driven policing.
He also reassured residents of the command’s determination to sustain aggressive operations against criminal elements, while warning cultists, drug peddlers, and other offenders to stay away from the state or face the law.
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