Police authorities in Ondo State have arrested a suspect linked to a rival cult clash in Ondo town.
In a statement on Tuesday, the spokesperson of the Ondo Police Command, Olayinka Olushola, said the suspected cultist 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”.
“The suspect, whose identity is being temporarily withheld pending the conclusion of investigations, was apprehended at his hideout following sustained intelligence gathering and a well-coordinated tactical operation by operatives of the Command,” the statement read.
“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.”
The police noted that the suspect had been previously linked to violence at Template Bar and Club, Ondo, on 13th July, 2025.
It said, during the attack, suspected cultists opened fire indiscriminately on unsuspecting football enthusiasts, leading to multiple 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 Ondo Police Command said, adding that the suspect is being interrogated.
The police said, “Intensive efforts are underway to track, identify, and apprehend other fleeing members of the gang”.
Some of the items recovered during the investigation include one English-made Beretta pistol with five live 3mm ammunition, one locally made pistol with two cartridges, three battle axes, three cutlasses, and two daggers/knives. Others are cult insignias (local lamp, berets, jackets, and face caps), various “criminal charms,” Illicit drugs and substances suspected to be Indian Hemp.
Meanwhile, the police command said that it had arrested 30 male suspected cultists between June and July 2025, “all of whom have since been charged to court”.
“In continuation of its zero-tolerance approach to cultism, the Command recorded significant success during this year’s 7/7 cult anniversary period, a date historically associated with violent clashes among rival groups,” the police added.
“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.”