Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for an emergency security meeting with heads of security agencies in the state to address renewed concerns over cult-related killings and other security breaches. The meeting is expected to focus on recent violent clashes involving rival cult groups in Osun, as well as measures to prevent criminal elements from using forests and other remote locations as hideouts. Governor Adeleke's Special Adviser on Security Matters, Samuel Ojo, disclosed this in an interview.
The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, aims to strengthen the state's security architecture and reassure residents. According to Ojo, the administration is particularly concerned about the recent spate of killings attributed to rival cult groups, stressing that the trend must be brought under control before it damages the image of the state. Ojo stated that the meeting would also examine security threats emanating from forests across the state.
The recent killing of an alleged ISWAP leader in Owo, Ondo State, serves as a warning to criminals seeking refuge in forested areas. Ojo emphasized that the government would not take it lightly with anyone using the forest as a hideout. Security chiefs would deliberate on strategies to halt the killings linked to rival cult groups and prevent other violent crimes from taking root in the state.
The governor's aide urged those involved in violent activities to desist, warning that the government would take necessary steps against perpetrators. This development follows two separate cult-related attacks recorded in Osogbo, the state capital, between Friday and Sunday, in which two persons were reportedly killed while about five others sustained injuries.
Following the incidents, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, ordered tactical teams to carry out raids on suspected criminal hideouts in Osogbo as part of efforts to prevent further attacks. The Yoruba Progressives Forum (YPF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the worsening security situation in Osun State.
The YPF expressed concern over the reported killing of Olalekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade, in Ile-Ife, as well as other violent incidents in Esa-Oke, Ilesa, and Ikire. The group cited the October 2 violence around Owoeba, near Ilesa Garage in Osogbo, where two persons were confirmed dead and four others sustained gunshot injuries in a suspected cult clash.
The YPF urged President Tinubu to direct relevant federal security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, and investigations, and ensure that perpetrators of violence are brought to justice. The group also called on the Osun Commissioner of Police, other security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community heads, parents, and youth organizations to work together to curb cultism and violent crime.
Key points
- Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke convenes emergency security meeting to address cult-related killings and forest insecurity.
- Recent cult-related attacks in Osogbo result in two deaths and five injuries.
- Yoruba Progressives Forum urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the worsening security situation in Osun State.
