Ilesa cult clash arrests as police detain five suspects, recover weapons and pursue others after violent incident in Osun State

The Osun State Police Command has arrested five suspected cultists following a violent clash in Ilesa metropolis, Osun State, on Monday evening.

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The incident, which occurred around the Adeti area of Ilesa at about 7pm on March 23, 2026, involved rival groups who reportedly engaged in a fierce exchange of gunfire before police intervention.

Speaking in Osogbo on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said operatives of the Anti-Cultism Team carried out the arrests and recovered an axe and suspected criminal charms from the suspects.

Ojelabi explained that initial reports suggested the individuals were armed hoodlums, but preliminary investigations revealed they were members of cult groups.

“On Monday, there was a cult clash around Adeti area, Ilesa at about 7pm, and five people were arrested by the anti-cultism squad and we recovered an axe and some criminal charms,” he said.

He added that several suspects fled the scene during the operation and are currently being tracked by security operatives.

The police also dismissed unverified claims linking the violence to political actors, including allegations that the clash involved hoodlums associated with the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress.

There were further suggestions that the incident may have been connected to the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise, although no official confirmation has been provided.

Attempts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State, Musa Olurode, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

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The police assured residents that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects and restore calm, describing the arrests as a decisive step towards curbing cult-related violence in the area.