The Osun State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man, identified as Ismail Damilare, also known as “Killer,” for alleged involvement in cult-related activities.
A viral video circulating online showed Damilare in handcuffs and leg chains, admitting to being caught with locally made firearms. In the clip, he claimed he carried the weapons for “self-defence” against a rival group.
While confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Damilare was found with two cut-to-size guns and six live cartridges.
“One cultist was arrested with two cut-to-size guns and about six cartridges,” Ojelabi told Insightlinks.
When asked if the suspect had any ties to transport union groups, particularly the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ojelabi said there was no such confirmation yet.
“I’m not aware if he works with the NURTW, but I can confirm he was arrested. He is otherwise known as ‘Killer,’ but his real name is Ismail Damilare. He’s 22 years old. For now, he’s the only person we’ve arrested, and we’re still gathering more details,” he added.
A police source, who spoke anonymously for safety reasons, told our correspondence that Damilare was tracked and arrested by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit after a manhunt in Osogbo, the state capital.
According to the source, “The Anti-Cultism operatives were on patrol around 7 p.m. at Akere Area in Oke Baale, Osogbo, when they got a tip-off that some hoodlums were hiding nearby. When officers stormed the area, several suspects escaped, but Damilare was caught before he could flee.”
The source added that the arrest was part of ongoing efforts by the command to rid Osun of criminal gangs ahead of the state’s approaching election period.
This latest development comes just weeks after the command arrested seven suspects for alleged armed robbery, attempted murder, and cult-related violence in Ile-Ife and Iree. Two motorcycles were recovered during that operation.
Ojelabi had earlier confirmed that on September 8 and 9, six suspected members of the Buccaneers Confraternity were arrested following a bloody clash at a higher institution in Iree that left two students injured and hospitalised.
Advertisement
