Osun police arrest three suspected cultists, recover firearms, weapons

The Osun State Police Command has announced the arrest of three suspected cultists and political thugs, and the recovery of firearms, ammunition, charms and other dangerous weapons during separate operations in the state.

The command disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan.

According to the statement, “the arrests were part of ongoing efforts by the police to ensure that Osun State remains a sanctuary for law-abiding residents and not a safe haven for criminal elements.”

The police identified the suspects as 27-year-old Adekola Olayinka Abdulazeez, 28-year-old Omolara Ezekiel, and 32-year-old Babatunde Azeez.

Items recovered from the suspects, the statement revealed, included “three English Beretta pistols, one live round of ammunition, one cut-to-size gun, two live cartridges, four cutlasses and three axes.”

The police said the operation began on “May 22, 2026, at about 10:00 a.m., when a patrol team attached to the Ikirun Area Command intercepted Abdulazeez while conducting a routine stop-and-search exercise.”

According to the command, “the suspect was riding an unregistered motorcycle when he was stopped and searched by officers. During the search, two English Beretta pistols, an axe and charms were allegedly recovered from him.

“The case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, where detectives attached to the Anti-Robbery Section commenced further investigations.”

Police said Abdulazeez allegedly confessed during interrogation that he was a member of the Eiye Confraternity and claimed that he was on his way to deliver the recovered arms and ammunition to another member, identified as Omolara Ezekiel, before his arrest.

The statement added that intelligence-led investigations later led to the arrest of Ezekiel and Babatunde Azeez, during which officers recovered a cut-to-size gun and another Beretta pistol loaded with one live round of ammunition.

The police further disclosed that “searches conducted at the suspects’ residences and surrounding premises resulted in the recovery of four cutlasses, two axes and two live cartridges.

“Investigations are continuing, while efforts are underway to apprehend other suspected members linked to the group.”

CP Gotan also warned political thugs, miscreants and other individuals who may be planning to disrupt public peace in the state to desist from such activities.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to identify and eliminate criminal elements across Osun State.