The Lagos police say they are clamping down on cultists in Ikorodu and other parts of the state.
According to NAN, Adekunle Ajisebutu, its spokesman, was reacting on Sunday to the allegation that it illegally detained some students of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu campus over alleged cultism.
Ajisebutu said the claims against the police were “baseless and unfounded”.
“The clampdown is in the interest of public peace following recent activities of cultists in the area,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, in his determination to rid the state of cultists and other criminals, directed regular raids of hideouts used by cultists, some of who are students.
“Some students have been arrested for cult-related activities in Ikorodu, investigated, and charged to court. Some are still being investigated. However, those not found culpable are released immediately without paying a dime.”
Ajisebutu pointed out that there was a regular check on police cells across the state.
The spokesman stressed that no suspect was detained for days in the cell anywhere.
It is understood that police in Ikorodu had arrested and detained some young men, including some who claimed to be students of Lagos State Polytechnic over alleged cultism.
It was also said that each suspect who paid between N50,000 and N100,000 to the police was released, while those who could not pay were further detained.
A source who spoke to NAN alleged that one of the detained suspects arrested at Sabo Bus Stop, Ikorodu was able to reach his brother serving in the army and the family lawyer.
He was released when the police could not provide evidence of his connection to cultism, the source added.
