Osun State Police Attribute Ilesa Shooting to Cult Clash, Dismiss Political Links
The Osun State Police Command has confirmed that a shooting incident in Ilesa on Monday evening resulted from a clash between rival cult groups, directly refuting earlier speculations that linked the violence to political party supporters or activities related to the state’s Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
According to a statement from the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, acting on behalf of Commissioner of Police CP Ibrahim Gotan, the confrontation occurred around 7 p.m. in the Adeti area of Ilesa. Officers from the Anti-Cultism Unit responded promptly to gunfire reports and arrested five suspects at the scene.
“On Monday, there was a cult clash around Adeti area, Ilesa at about 7pm, and five people were arrested by the anti-cultism squad,” Ojelabi stated. He detailed that items seized from the suspects included an axe and suspected criminal charms, indicating possible ritualistic elements connected to the groups.
The spokesperson explained that initial assessments had suggested the involvement of armed robbers or general hoodlums. However, preliminary investigations following the arrests confirmed the individuals were cult members. “At first, we thought they were armed hoodlums, but when we arrested some of them, preliminary investigations showed that they were cultists,” he said.
Ojelabi noted that while five individuals are in custody, several other participants fled the scene and are now the target of an ongoing manhunt by security operatives. “Some people fled and we are still looking for them,” he added, assuring residents that efforts to restore calm and apprehend all those connected to the incident remain active.
The police clarification comes amid circulating rumours in the community that the shooting was politically motivated, potentially tied to thuggery between rival factions or disruptions to the ongoing voter registration process. Authorities have firmly dismissed these claims, reiterating that evidence points conclusively to a premeditated clash between known cult groups.
Cult-related violence has been a recurring security challenge in parts of southwest Nigeria, often involving rival groups competing for territory or influence. The swift police response and arrest of suspects in this incident underscore the Command’s stated commitment to dismantling such groups. Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and provide useful information to aid in the pursuit of the remaining fugitives, emphasizing that the situation is under control.
