The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three suspected cultists and recovered firearms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons during an intelligence-led operation in the Imota area of the state.

The Command disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the operation followed credible information from members of the public about the activities of suspected cultists in the area.

Acting on the intelligence, police operatives stormed the location and arrested Jelili Adeyemo, 37, who is alleged to be the armourer of the group, Bisoye Adewale, 42, and John Okeafo, 60.

Items recovered from the suspects include one Beretta pistol, one locally made pistol, seven Dane guns, 10 live cartridges, seven expended cartridges, one stun gun, two handcuffs, four cutlasses and other exhibits.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are members of the Aiye Confraternity.

The Command further disclosed that the recovered Beretta pistol allegedly belongs to a notorious cultist identified as “Mayibone,” who is currently on the run.

“The suspects have been arraigned and remanded, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing gang members and recover additional weapons,” the statement noted.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling cultism and other violent crimes across the state.

He urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely and credible information to assist ongoing crime-fighting efforts.

The Command also encouraged members of the public to report suspicious persons, vehicles or activities to the nearest police station or through its emergency lines.

A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin has convicted two persons and a company for illegal mining activities in contravention of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

The convicts, Samuel Sunday, who was arraigned on a one-count charge, and Saheed Lawal Akanji alongside his company, Saaskrona Nigeria Limited, who were separately arraigned on a two-count charge, were prosecuted before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.

According to a statement by the Media Unit of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, their journey to jail followed credible intelligence received by the commission alleging that some individuals were illegally dealing in and processing solid minerals in Kwara State without the requisite licences.

Acting on the intelligence, EFCC operatives carried out surveillance, which led to the arrest of a number of suspects.

While Sunday was arrested at his factory located in the Olorunda area, beside Deeper Life Camp, Eiyenkorin, Akanji was arrested at his factory opposite Ojaja University, along Passa Road, Eiyenkorin, Kwara State.

Investigations revealed that the defendants were unlawfully dealing in and processing various solid minerals, including Smithsonite, Calcite, Anhydrite, Tennantite, and Quartz, without the licences required under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

The charge against Sunday read: “That you, Samuel Sunday, sometime in June 2026, within the judicial division of the Federal High Court, did possess minerals without permit contrary to the provisions of Section 93, read along with Section 131(d) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 134(b) of the same Act.”

Count One of the charges against Akanji and Saaskrona Nigeria Limited reads: “That you, SAASKRONA NIGERIA LIMITED and Saheed Lawal Akanji (Director, Saaskrona Nigeria Limited), sometime in June 2026, within the judicial division of the Federal High Court, did possess minerals without permit, contrary to the provisions of Section 93, read along with Section 131(d) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 134(b) of the same Act.”

The defendants, upon arraignment, pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

Following the guilty pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Rashidat Alao, reviewed the facts of the cases and tendered documentary evidence as well as the minerals recovered during the investigation.

In her judgment, Justice Awogboro sentenced Sunday to 12 months’ imprisonment or an option of a fine of N2 million.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the 140 tonnes of mineral ore recovered at his site to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Similarly, Akanji was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or an option of a fine of N1 million, while Saaskrona Nigeria Limited was fined N1 million.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the 90 tonnes of minerals recovered from the company’s site to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a farmer, Funke Agbaje, along with two others in Agbaje community, Ala-Elefosan axis of Idanre Local Council Area of Ondo State.

The victims, comprising two women and one male, were seized while working on their farm settlement in the agrarian community.

According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the abductors have established contact with the families, demanding a ransom of N5 million for the release of each of the three captives.

The source further stated that the incident had been reported to the Ala Police Station as well as the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun.

He said, “My sister-in-law, Funke Falolu, and the two others had gone to the farm just as they do every day. We never imagined they would not return home. The kidnappers called and told us to bring N5 million before they will be released. Where do we get such money?”

When contacted, the police public relations officer for the Ondo State Command, Abayomi Jimoh, assured that the incident will be investigated.