At least five people have been killed in separate incidents linked to a clash between suspected rival cult groups in Ilesa, Osun State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the initial clash reportedly occurred around 8:00pm on Monday in the Imo area of Ilesa township, involving suspected members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities.
Three people, identified simply as Idowu, Yinka and Eja, were reportedly killed during the violence.
A reprisal attack was subsequently reported around the Boluwaduro area, where two other people suspected to be cult members were killed, while two others sustained serious injuries.
Confirming the incidents, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police in charge of security for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, CP Samuel Erale Etaifo, had ordered the deployment of operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to Ilesa.
According to Ojelabi, the deployment was aimed at preventing further escalation, apprehending those responsible and restoring calm in the affected areas.
In a statement issued to journalists, the police spokesperson said four expended cartridges and two Android mobile phones were recovered from the scene, while preliminary investigations had commenced.
“The Command is also working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify all persons connected with the clash,” Ojelabi said.
He added that the police had intensified security operations in Ilesa and neighbouring communities.
“The CP Election has directed the VCRU operatives and other tactical teams to intensify patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations within Ilesa and adjoining areas, particularly around identified flashpoints, to forestall any reprisal attack,” he said.
Speaking specifically about the killing in the Boluwaduro area, Ojelabi confirmed that the police were aware of the incident.
“We are aware of that incident. So far two people are dead and two people are severely injured. We are suspecting it to be a reprisal attack from what happened yesterday,” he said.
The police said investigations into both incidents were ongoing, with further developments expected to be communicated to the public.
