Osun: Police arrest six suspected cultists in hideout raids

The Osun State Police Command has arrested six suspected cultists during intelligence-led raids on criminal hideouts in Osogbo, the state capital.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura.

According to the statement, the arrested suspects were identified as Atilola Idris, 22; Shobowale Abeeb, 31; Jimoh Nasiru, 32; Tajudeen Jamiu, 26; Okanlawon Tajudeen, 27; and Abolubode Toheeb, 18.

“They were arrested at different locations in Osogbo on October 8, 2026.

“The arrests were carried out by operatives of the Osogbo Area Command at identified vulnerable locations and black spots as part of efforts to curb cultism and other criminal activities in the state.”

DSP Ojelabi said the operation followed intelligence gathering targeting criminal hideouts across the area.

The police said one of the suspects, identified in the statement as Tajudeen Okanlawon, confessed to being initiated into the Aye confraternity cult group in 2023.

The statement said Okanlawon was initiated by a person identified as the late Lekan Lexy.

The suspect reportedly alleged that Lekan Lexy was killed by members of a rival cult group during activities leading up to the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.

“The six suspects had been charged to court. Investigations and enforcement operations would continue to identify and apprehend other individuals allegedly involved in cultism and related offences,” the statement added.

The command also stated that it was intensifying intelligence gathering and tactical operations to tackle cultism, drug-related offences and other criminal activities across Osun State.

Osun: Police arrest six suspected cultists in hideout raids