The Ogun State command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of two soldiers and 20 other suspected cultists following a late-night raid on the Hilton Hotel, located in the Osiele area of Abeokuta.

The operation, carried out on Friday night, July 25, 2025, was led by the command’s Anti-Cultism Unit in collaboration with operatives from the Odeda and Aregbe Divisions, as well as the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

Naijaonpoint reports that the spokesperson of the command, CSP Omolola Odutola, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the tactical operation was based on credible intelligence indicating that members of the dreaded Aiye confraternity had converged on the hotel for a gathering.

“Acting on credible intelligence, a joint team comprising operatives from Odeda Division, Aregbe Division, the Anti-Cultism Unit, and SWAT, led by SP Adejoh Israel, stormed the location at about 2020hrs on 25th July, 2025,” the statement read.

She added that a total of 22 suspects were arrested during the operation, including two serving military personnel, 19 male civilians, and three females.

According to Odutola, items recovered from the suspects include a cut-to-size locally made gun, a UTC-branded axe, and several blue berets believed to be insignia of the Aiye cult group.

“There was no casualty recorded during the operation,” she noted.

The police mouthpiece revealed that the suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Anti-Cultism Unit, at Eleweran, Abeokuta, where further investigations are ongoing.

Reaffirming the commitment of the Ogun State Police Command to rid the state of cultism and other violent crimes, Odutola called on residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

She urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support the force’s ongoing crackdown on criminal elements within the state.