A 19-year-old first-year Computer Science student at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Olamide, was murdered by suspected cultists on February 12, 2026. Olamide was seized by senior students, including an HND student identified as Promise, allegedly a member of the Neo Black Movement, also known as Aye Confraternity. The students had asked Olamide for his power bank, and he was subsequently taken into solitary confinement in a school hall room.
Olamide had managed to call a female friend using a small mobile phone, informing her of his situation. However, the senior students discovered the phone, snatched it from him, and switched it off. That night, Olamide was murdered by the suspected cultists. His remains have yet to be recovered. The female friend had reached out to the authorities, who reported the case of the missing student at Sango Police Station and took Promise for questioning.
During a search of Promise's residence, an Award of Excellence indicating Promise as the Chief Butcher of Aye Confraternity was recovered. Promise allegedly confessed to his membership of the cult group and knowledge about Olamide's disappearance. The case was transferred to the Anti-Cultism Unit on February 20, where an investigation began. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that suspects were arrested in a coordinated operation within the premises of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, on April 29.
The suspects, including Pelumi, Sunday, Gbenga, Olamilekan, Israel, Azeez, and Abiola, were allegedly planning a cult meeting at a designated temple called Four Pillars. Recovered from the suspects were two locally-made cut-to-size guns, two English pistols, 16 live cartridges, four axes, and assorted charms. Preliminary investigation showed that some of those arrested were already on the Command's watchlist over alleged involvement in murder and cult-related activities in the state.
Investigation revealed that Promise alleged Olamide of being a member of the Eiye cult group, but reports had it that Promise allegedly held a grouse against Olamide, whom he believed was befriending a girl who refused his advances. The girl, also aged 19, was said to have seen Promise as a big brother and used to call him "Uncle Promise." On the day of the murder, Promise sent two emojis, one depicting anger and the other a crying one, to the girl.
One of the suspects, Israel, reportedly confessed to the police that he and four other members of the cult group were directed to take Olamide out of the school premises. Gbenga, who is Number Two in position, was said to have lent his Lexus SUV to the group, which was used to convey Olamide to a destination where he was killed. The hatchet men shouted: "Aye Axe Men!" repeatedly as they were cutting him.
This incident is not an isolated case, as there have been other reported cases of cult-related murders in Ibadan. In October 2025, a 27-year-old man, Ukpene Michael, was shot to death by suspected cult members, and in April, a 35-year-old man, Idris, was attacked and killed by cultists suspected to belong to Eiye Confraternity.
Key points
- The suspects used a Lexus SUV as their operational vehicle and an axe to cut off Olamide.
- The murder was allegedly in retaliation for a previous killing by a rival cult group.
- The suspects were arrested in a coordinated operation by the Anti-Cultism Unit.
