The Osun State Police Command has arrested seven suspected criminals for alleged armed robbery, attempted murder, and cult-related violence in Ile-Ife and Iree, recovering stolen motorcycles and other exhibits.
A statement signed by DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, Osun Police Public Relations Officer, in Osogbo, on Thursday revealed that the arrests followed separate incidents that occurred between August 16 and September 9, 2025.
According to the statement, the suspects operate as syndicate who terrorise Ile-Ife and it environs. They rob different individuals and depossess them of their belongings.
Ojelabi said, “one of the suspects, Johnson Olagoke (23), pretended to be a passenger and lured the motorcyclist to a school, where two accomplices lay in wait. The rider was then ambushed and beaten with a stick until he lost consciousness, after which his motorcycle, ₦17,850 cash, a Tecno phone, and a handbag were stolen.
“On August 18, Olagoke allegedly attacked another motorcyclist in the same manner, obtaining ₦5,000 under false pretence before hitting the victim from behind”. The suspect fled with the victim’s motorcycle, a Tecno Spark 9F phone, and ₦10,650 cash.
The victims reported the incidents at ‘C’ Division, Ile-Ife, before the cases were transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit. Acting on intelligence, operatives arrested Olagoke and recovered two motorcycles with registration numbers KJA 543 QN and BDG 556 QN. He has been cooperating in efforts to track down other accomplices still at large.
In a separate development, the PPRO disclosed that the Anti-Cultism Unit arrested six suspected cultists following a violent clash at a higher institution in Iree on September 8, 2025.
“The suspects, Oluwadamilare Temitope (23), Ayodeji John (24), Adepoju Adesoji (27), Yusuf Abeeb (24), Fatai Quadri (24), and Lateef Abiodun (23), were allegedly involved in a gunfight linked to members of the Buccaneers confraternity and rival groups. Two students sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
The swift response was in line with the directives of Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, mnips, who ordered a clampdown on cult violence in the state.
“All suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,”the statement concluded.
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