The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the South-West, Adegoke Fayoade, has directed the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to work closely with other security agencies to end the rising wave of extrajudicial and cult-related killings across the state.
Fayoade gave the directive on Friday during a security stakeholders’ meeting held at the Osun State Police Command Headquarters in Osogbo.
The meeting brought together heads of security agencies, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Pastor John Adeleke, representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and members of the media.
The ruling Accord Party was absent from the meeting, with no representatives attending the session convened by the visiting DIG.
Addressing participants, Fayoade condemned the increasing incidents of killings allegedly carried out by cult groups and instructed the Commissioner of Police to identify their hideouts and ensure those responsible were arrested and prosecuted.
He described the current wave of violence as a continuation of cult-related clashes that had plagued the state since 2022, warning that such killings must not be allowed to persist.
“We must not let this happen. There is no benefit in cultism. I don’t think any society should tolerate that,” Fayoade said.
He stressed that the police must work in collaboration with other security agencies to restore law and order, regardless of the political affiliations of those involved.
“We don’t care what people, whatever affiliation they have or party they are, as long as they are disturbing the peace of the people, they must be brought to book,” he stated.
The DIG ordered an intensified joint security operation across Osun State, directing that security personnel begin coordinated patrols every weekend until the governorship election.
“There must be a joint show of force. From this weekend until the day of the election, there must be joint patrols. Come out in full force with your armoured vehicles and everything in your arsenal. Move around all the nooks and crannies of the state.
“That will send signals to the perpetrators that this is no longer business as usual,” he said.
Fayoade also instructed the police command to establish strategic checkpoints across the state to intercept illegal firearms and criminal elements.
He disclosed that he had directed the Commissioner of Police to reactivate between eight and nine traditional checkpoints as part of the enhanced security measures.
“This is very important. We don’t care whether they belong to any political party. Our concern is that they must not disturb the peace of the people. They must not continue their reckless killings,” he added.
The DIG further criticised the retaliatory nature of cult violence, saying rival groups often engage in revenge attacks by counting casualties as though competing with one another.
“One funny thing about them is that if one cult group kills one person today, the other group will retaliate tomorrow and begin counting scores. It becomes a kind of competition—a bad competition over somebody’s precious life.
“You can see that those boys are not mentally stable. We don’t have to tolerate them,” he said.
Osun State has witnessed an increase in cult-related and politically linked violence in recent weeks.
Among the latest incidents was the killing of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade, who was reportedly shot dead by suspected political hoodlums in Ilobu on Sunday.
Another victim, identified simply as Rogba, was murdered by unknown gunmen in Esa-Oke on Tuesday, further heightening concerns over security ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
Security agencies are expected to intensify surveillance and joint operations across the state as part of efforts to prevent further violence and guarantee a peaceful electoral process.
