The Osun State Police Command has arrested twelve suspected notorious cult members and recovered three firearms, two vehicles, and other exhibits in a series of operations across the state.
According to a statement issued by the Command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the arrests were part of intensified efforts to curb cultism and other criminal activities under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan.
The statement listed the suspects as Dolapo Abioye, 27; Olaoye Tunde, 26; Olanrewaju Emmanuel, 24; Ganiyu Saheed, 25; Ashifat Ishaq, 25; and Ayoola Sodiq, 26.
Others are Blessing Olayele, 23; Gbadamosi Ibrahim, 35, popularly known as ‘Gbedu’; Kehinde Folashade, 28; Oluwasegun Michael, 26; Okupe Boluwatife, 20; and Kilako Ismail Damilare, 22, also known as ‘Killer’.
Items recovered from the suspects included one Camry Spider car with registration number KJA 210 JM, one Muscle Camry with registration number GGE 961 JA, an unregistered black Lady motorcycle, three locally made cut-to-size pistols with seven live cartridges, a UTC axe, and several criminal charms.
The statement disclosed that the first operation occurred on October 13, 2025, around 5 pm, following a distress call from Kajogbola Area in Iree town, where suspected cultists invaded the neighbourhood wielding cutlasses and other dangerous weapons while demanding money from residents.
“During the attack, a pharmacist was inflicted with head injuries by the hoodlums. Upon receiving the distress call, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit and Iree Divisional Police personnel responded swiftly, arresting five suspects at the scene,” the statement read.
The police added that the suspects confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity, leading to the arrest of four additional suspects in a hotel in Iree during a follow-up investigation.
In a related development, on October 14, 2025, at about 6:30 am, members of a vigilante group at Oja-Oba Market Square in Iragbiji apprehended two young men who were later identified as Oluwasegun Michael and Okupe Boluwatife.
During a search, one locally made cut-to-size pistol loaded with a live cartridge and a UTC axe were found in their possession.
“Both suspects confessed to being Eiye cult members who fled from Iree due to the police crackdown,” the statement revealed.
On October 19, 2025, another operation was carried out at Akede Area, Oke Baale, Osogbo, after residents reported that armed hoodlums were terrorising the area with guns and cutlasses.
Police operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit stormed the location, arrested one Kilako Ismail Damilare, popularly called “Killer”, and recovered exhibits while other members escaped.
The command confirmed that all suspects are currently in custody and will be charged in court upon completion of investigations.
