The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the South-West, Adegoke Fayoade, has sought collaboration among the security agencies in Osun State to halt the wave of cult-related and extrajudicial killings threatening peace in the state.
Fayoade made the call on Friday during a security stakeholders’ meeting held at the Osun State Police Command Headquarters in Osogbo.
He specifically directed the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to work closely with other security agencies to dismantle criminal networks responsible for the recurring violence.
The meeting brought together heads of security agencies, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner of 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. However, the ruling Accord party did not send representatives.
Expressing concern over the growing rate of killings allegedly perpetrated by suspected cultists, the DIG described the violence as unacceptable and instructed the police commissioner to identify criminal hideouts and ensure those responsible are prosecuted.
According to him, the resurgence of cult-related violence in Osun is linked to unresolved incidents dating back to 2022, warning that authorities must not allow the cycle of reprisals to continue.
Fayoade stressed that law enforcement agencies would not consider political affiliations when dealing with criminal elements.
“We don’t care what affiliation they have or which political party they belong to. Anyone disturbing the peace of the people must be brought to book,” he said.
To strengthen security across the state, the DIG directed that joint patrols involving all security agencies should commence immediately and continue every weekend until the forthcoming election.
He urged security operatives to deploy armoured vehicles and other operational assets across communities to demonstrate a strong security presence that can deter criminal activity.
“There must be a joint show of force. From this weekend and every weekend until the election, security agencies should patrol every nook and cranny of the state. That will send a clear signal that it is no longer business as usual for those causing unrest,” he said.
Fayoade also instructed the police to reactivate several traditional security checkpoints across Osun to intercept illegal arms and criminal suspects moving around the state.
He noted that eight or nine checkpoints should be reopened during the election period to strengthen surveillance and improve public safety.
Condemning the pattern of retaliatory attacks among rival cult groups, the DIG said innocent lives were being lost in what he described as a senseless competition.
“If one cult group kills someone today, another group retaliates the next day and starts counting scores. It is a dangerous competition over human lives. We cannot tolerate such behaviour,” he added.
Osun State has witnessed an increase in cult-related violence and politically linked killings in recent weeks, raising security concerns ahead of the election.
Among the recent incidents was the killing of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade, who was allegedly shot dead by suspected political hoodlums in Ilobu on Sunday. Another victim, identified simply as Rogba, was reportedly murdered by unidentified gunmen in Esa-Oke on Tuesday.
The renewed security measures are expected to bolster efforts to restore public confidence and maintain law and order across the state in the build-up to the polls.
