The Osun State Police Command has arrested 12 suspected members of a notorious cult group and recovered three firearms, two vehicles, and other exhibits in a series of coordinated operations across the state.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, the arrests were made by officers of the Anti-Cultism Unit under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, as part of renewed efforts to combat cultism and violent crime in the state.

Ojelabi said the command acted on multiple distress calls and intelligence reports linking the suspects to attacks and extortion in Iree, Iragbiji, and Osogbo communities between October 13 and 19, 2025.

“On 13th October, 2025, at about 1700 hours, some armed hoodlums suspected to be members of an unlawful society invaded Kajogbola Area, Iree, with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, demanding money from residents,” the statement read.

He said the suspects attacked a pharmacist and inflicted machete wounds on his head before police operatives from the Anti-Cultism Unit and Iree Division swiftly moved in and arrested five suspects at the scene.

“Immediately the distress call was received, Anti-cultism unit of the Command swung into action together with Police personnel from Iree Division, five suspects were apprehended at the scene and exhibits were recovered from them.

“The suspects confessed to being members of the Eiye confraternity.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of four additional suspects in a hotel in Iree,” the statement added.

“Upon searching the duo, one locally made cut-to-size pistol loaded with a live cartridge and an axe were recovered.

“The suspects later confessed to being members of the Eiye confraternity who fled Iree following police pressure,” the command said.

Ojelabi also confirmed the arrest of another suspect, identified as 22-year-old Kilako Ismail Damilare, popularly known as “Killer,” who was apprehended on October 19 in the Oke-Baale area of Osogbo with firearms and charms recovered from him.

Items recovered from the suspects included two Toyota Camry cars with registration numbers KJA 210 JM and GGE 961 JA, a black unregistered motorcycle, three locally made pistols with seven live cartridges, an axe, and several criminal charms.

The police spokesperson added that all suspects are in custody and will be charged in court upon completion of investigations.

Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, warned that the command would not tolerate any form of cultism or related criminal activity in the state.

The command reaffirmed the police’s resolve to sustain its onslaught against cultism and other violent crimes, urging residents to report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station. (The PUNCH)