The Ogun State Police Command has arrested three secondary school students, aged 12, 18, and 18, for their alleged involvement in a planned cult initiation in Owode-Yewa.
In July, the Osun State Police Command reported that groups increasingly use secondary schools as recruitment grounds. These groups employ peer pressure, intimidation, and violence to recruit students.
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Details of the Arrest
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, the arrests followed timely intelligence about a cult-related activity tagged “Kito Day.”
Students from different secondary schools in the area reportedly planned to participate in the event.
Police received the tip-off on October 22, 2026, and the Divisional Police Officer in Owode-Yewa quickly deployed detectives to the scene. The police worked with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria to carry out the operation.
In a statement released on Friday, the command confirmed that the raid frustrated the suspected initiation. Officers arrested the three students and recovered several items believed to be linked to the planned activity. These items include:
- One axe
- Two knives
- One short cutlass
- One rubber toy gun
- A school bag
Police have transferred the suspects and exhibits to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Cult Initiation in Secondary Schools
This incident is part of a wider and recurring problem of cultism among secondary school students across Nigeria.
In March 2025, police arrested eight students of Ifo High School (aged 15-16) for belonging to a cult group called “Future Guys.” The students were allegedly initiated by two senior classmates and were involved in disturbances and extortion within the school.
Authorities have recorded similar cases in other parts of Ogun State over the years.
Police and vigilante groups have frequently disrupted initiation attempts involving secondary school students.
Nationwide, cultism has spread from universities into secondary schools. Students as young as 12-14 have been initiated in states such as Lagos, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, and Anambra.
Experts and authorities continue to warn that the involvement of younger students in cult activities poses a serious threat to school safety and community security.
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