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