Three people were reportedly killed in a cult-related clash involving suspected members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities in Ilesa, Osun State.
The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Monday in the Imo area of Ilesa, according to the Osun State Police Command.
The command, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, and obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, said the victims were identified as Idowu, Yinka and Eja, although their identities had not been fully established.
The police said it received a distress call concerning the clash and subsequently deployed operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the area.
The deployment was ordered by the Commissioner of Police in charge of security for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, CP Samuel Erale Etaifo, to prevent further violence, arrest those responsible and restore normalcy.
“Following the incident, three persons, identified as Idowu, Yinka and Eja, all yet to be properly identified, were reportedly shot dead,” the statement said.
According to the command, four expended cartridges and two Android mobile phones were recovered from the scene.
The police said preliminary investigations had commenced to determine what led to the confrontation and identify all individuals connected with the incident.
“The Command is also working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify all persons connected with the clash,” the statement added.
The police commissioner has also directed the VCRU and other tactical teams to intensify patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations across Ilesa and neighbouring communities.
The command said particular attention would be given to identified flashpoints in an effort to prevent possible reprisal attacks following the killings.
The police warned members of rival cult groups and other criminal elements against exploiting the incident to trigger further violence.
It said anyone found involved in cult-related violence, reprisal attacks, unlawful possession of firearms or other criminal activities would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Residents of Ilesa were urged to remain calm, obey the law and refrain from circulating unverified information that could heighten tension in the community.
The command also appealed to residents to promptly report suspicious movements and activities to the police.
It assured the public that investigations into the incident were ongoing and that further developments would be communicated as they emerge.
The latest killings come amid growing concerns over violent incidents in parts of Osun State in the months preceding the 2026 governorship election. The development has heightened security concerns, particularly over the possibility of cult violence and other criminal activities being exploited to disrupt the electoral process.
