Osun police parade 24 suspects over cultism, political crimes

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

The Osun State Police Command has paraded 24 suspects over alleged cultism and political crimes.

Addressing journalists at the police headquarters in Osogbo, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, said the suspects were arrested during intensified police operations across the state.

The suspects are Kareem Saheed (aka “Tanfeani”); Oyeladun Muideen (aka Akilapa), 46; Ridwan Adekola, 39; Mukaila Azeez (aka Mikki), 33; Sunday Friday (aka Akube), 26; Olamilekan Fatai, 27; Tiamiyu Ismail, 26; Famuyiwa Adekunle Toib, 30; Ajiboye Toheeb, 28; Morufu Sodiq, 24; and Folorunsho Moshood, 31.

Others are Hassan Sodiq, 32; Badiru Saheed, 26; Adegoke Olalekan, 27; Farouq Olawale, 25; Iyanuoluwa Sarumi, 30; Afolabi Ahmed, 30; Adeshina Lukman, 39; Mutiu Opeyemi, 32; Olushola Daniel, 32; Abiola Olabode, 39; Azeez Abiodun, 32; Babatunde Kehinde, 23; and Dada Mayowa, 31.

CP Gotan warned criminally minded individuals, including cultists, political thugs and other troublemakers, to desist from activities capable of disrupting public peace and order or face prosecution under the full weight of the law.

He said the first suspect, Kareem Saheed, was linked to the death of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade, who was struck by a stray bullet at Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government Area on Sunday, June 21, 2026.

Governor Ademola Adeleke commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Police Command for the arrest of the suspect.

Speaking with journalists, Saheed, popularly known as Tanfeani, claimed that members of the Accord Party visited Irepodun Local Government Area on Friday and that he retrieved a gun from behind one of their buses. He alleged that the firearm was later returned to them following the intervention of some political leaders.

He also insisted that the viral video in which he appeared was recorded on Friday, not on Sunday when the teenage boy was fatally shot.

Last week, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Adegoke Soyoade, met with security agencies and directed the arrest of political thugs while ordering a joint show of force to ensure peace ahead of the governorship election in the state.