Two Students Injured, Seven Suspects Arrested in Osun Cult and Robbery Incidents

Following a violent cult clash on a campus in Iree that left two students injured and a series of armed robberies targeting motorcycle riders in Ile-Ife, Osun State police arrested seven suspects—including cultists and a robbery gang leader—as investigations continue and authorities vow to restore public safety and prosecute all involved.

Two students from a higher institution in Iree, Osun State, were hospitalized after sustaining injuries during a violent cult clash that erupted on campus on September 8, 2025. The incident, which involved members of the dreaded Buccaneers confraternity and a rival cult group, caused significant disruption to academic activities and sparked widespread panic among students, lecturers, and other members of the campus community. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as armed cultists engaged in a fierce gun battle within the school premises, forcing some students to flee for safety while others took cover in nearby buildings.

In swift response to the security breach, the Osun State Police Command deployed officers from the Anti-Cultism Unit, who, acting on intelligence and directives from the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, arrested three suspects at the scene. Subsequent investigations and coordinated raids led to the arrest of three additional suspects within 24 hours, bringing the total number of individuals detained in connection with the campus violence to six.

In a separate but equally disturbing case, the police also apprehended a robbery suspect, Johnson Olagoke, in Ile-Ife. Olagoke, along with several accomplices who are still on the run, allegedly orchestrated a series of ambushes targeting commercial motorcycle riders. According to police reports, the suspects lured their victims to secluded areas under the pretense of needing transportation. Once in isolated spots, the riders were violently attacked, with some beaten unconscious using sticks and other weapons, before being robbed of their motorcycles, mobile phones, and cash.

Two such incidents were recorded on August 16 and 18, where victims lost personal belongings including Tecno phones, a combined sum of over ₦28,000, and two motorcycles. The stolen motorcycles—both Boxer models—were recovered during police operations and identified by their registration numbers: KJA 543 and BDG 556 QN.

Those arrested across the cult and robbery operations include Johnson Olagoke, Oluwadamilare Temitope, Ayodeji John, Adepoju Adesoji, Yusuf Abeeb, Fatai Quadri, and Lateef Abiodun. They are currently in custody as police continue thorough investigations, with charges expected to be filed once inquiries are concluded.

Speaking on the developments, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Abiodun Ojelabi, emphasized that the law enforcement agencies in Osun are determined to rid the state of criminal networks, particularly those targeting vulnerable populations like students and commercial workers. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities in their communities, assuring the public of the police command’s unwavering commitment to restoring peace and safety across Osun State.

Authorities further reiterated that both the cult-related violence and robbery incidents are being treated with the utmost seriousness and that justice will be pursued to its full extent in order to deter similar crimes in the future.

READ ALSO: Lagos Teen Overcomes UTME Setback, Scores 351 in Remarkable Comeback

SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, DAILY POST