By Michael Ofulue Osogbo
The Osun State Police Command has arrested twelve suspected members of a notorious cult group and recovered three locally made pistols, two vehicles, and other dangerous weapons during separate operations across the state.
According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the arrests were made following coordinated raids by the Anti-Cultism Unit and other tactical teams under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, mnips.
The police spokesperson explained that on October 13, 2025, at about 5:00 p.m., officers responded to a distress call from Kajogbola area of Iree, where armed hoodlums believed to be members of an unlawful society attacked residents and injured a pharmacist with a cutlass.
He said a swift response from the Anti-Cultism Unit and Iree Divisional Police led to the arrest of five suspects at the scene, while further investigations led to the apprehension of four others in a nearby hotel. The suspects reportedly confessed to belonging to the Eiye confraternity.
In a separate incident on October 14, members of a local vigilante group intercepted two young men Oluwasegun Michael (26) and Okupe Boluwatife (20) at Oja-Oba Market, Iragbiji, and recovered a locally made pistol, one live cartridge, and an axe from them.
The suspects also confessed to being cult members who fled Iree following the police crackdown.
Another breakthrough was recorded on October 19, when operatives, acting on intelligence, stormed Akede area of Oke-Baale, Osogbo, and arrested Kilako Ismail Damilare (22), popularly known as Killer, while others escaped. Recovered exhibits include firearms, cartridges, and criminal charms.
The suspects Dolapo Abioye, Olaoye Tunde, Olanrewaju Emmanuel, Ganiyu Saheed, Ashifat Ishaq, Ayoola Sodiq, Blessing Olayele, Gbadamosi Ibrahim (a.k.a Gbedu), Kehinde Folashade, Oluwasegun Michael, Okupe Boluwatife, and Kilako Ismail Damilare (a.k.a Killer) — are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
Items recovered are One Toyota Camry “Spider” with registration number KJA 210 JM, a Toyota Camry “Muscle” with registration number GGE 961 JA, One unregistered black Lady motorcycle, three locally made cut-to-size pistols with seven live cartridges, one UTC axe and several criminal charms.
CP Gotan commended the officers for their gallantry and warned cultists and criminal elements to desist from acts capable of breaching the peace of the state.
He also urged students and youths to focus on their education and shun cultism, emphasizing that the police would continue to clamp down on such groups across Osun State.
“The Command will not spare anyone involved in cultism or other criminal activities. We urge parents and guardians to warn their children against joining unlawful societies,” Gotan stated