Osun Police Arrest Six In Fresh Crackdown On Cultism In Osogbo

The Osun State Police Command has intensified its campaign against cultism with the arrest of six suspected members of a cult group in Osogbo.

The arrests followed an intelligence-led raid on criminal hideouts and identified black spots by operatives of the Osogbo Area Command on October 8, 2026.

The command announced the arrests in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, who said the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to tackle cultism, drug-related offences and other criminal activities in the state.

The suspects are Atilola Idris, 22; Shobowale Abeeb, 31; Jimoh Nasiru, 32; Tajudeen Jamiu, 26; Okanlawon Tajudeen, 27; and Abolubode Toheeb, 18.

The police further disclosed that one of the suspects allegedly admitted being initiated into the Aye confraternity in 2023.

According to the statement, the suspect named a man known as Lekan Lexy as the person who allegedly initiated him into the group.

He reportedly claimed that Lexy was killed by members of a rival cult group during the build-up to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

The police did not disclose whether the alleged killing was the subject of a separate investigation or whether any of the six suspects had been linked to other violent incidents.

The command said the suspects had been charged to court, adding that efforts were ongoing to track down other individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities across the state.

It also pledged to sustain intelligence-led operations and tactical interventions aimed at preventing crime and protecting residents.

The latest arrests underscore the command’s ongoing efforts to address cult-related activities in Osun, although the allegations against the suspects remain subject to judicial determination.