Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has convened an urgent meeting with the heads of all security agencies within the state. The crucial gathering, scheduled for Wednesday, aims to address a recent surge in security breaches, most notably the alarming spate of killings attributed to rival cult groups across the state.
Addressing Cult Violence and Forest Security
Samuel Ojo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, confirmed the upcoming meeting during an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online. Ojo stated that a primary agenda item would be to deliberate on and develop strategies to curb the violent activities of suspected cultists.
Beyond internal cult clashes, the meeting will also focus on enhancing the safety and security of Osun’s forest reserves. This comes in the wake of the recent killing of an ISWAP leader in Owo, Ondo State, an event Ojo described as a critical lesson for authorities.
“We are holding a security meeting on Wednesday, by the special grace of God, to reassure our people and put our security agencies on their toes,” Ojo remarked. He further emphasized the state’s resolve against criminal elements, stating, “What happened in Ondo is a lesson to those criminals harbouring and hibernating in the forests. We will not take it lightly with anyone using the forest as a hideout.”
The governor’s aide reiterated the urgency of the situation regarding cultism: “Aside from that, we are also using the meeting to address the incessant killings by rival cult groups in the past weeks. We need to meet and discuss how to stop these killings by cult groups or any other violent crimes hiding under that canopy.”
Protecting Osun’s Image and Issuing Strong Warnings
Ojo stressed the imperative to halt the violence not only for the safety of citizens but also to safeguard Osun’s reputation. “We need to stop it, so as not to give our state a bad name, because nobody knows what they are fighting for or why they are killing themselves,” he asserted.
He issued a stern warning to perpetrators of violent crimes, urging them to desist or face severe repercussions from the state’s security apparatus.
PUNCH Online previously reported on two separate attacks by rival cult factions in Osogbo, the state capital, between last Friday and Sunday. These incidents tragically resulted in two fatalities and left approximately five others injured. In response to these latest outbreaks of cult violence, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, has already deployed tactical teams to raid suspected criminal hideouts across Osogbo, demonstrating an immediate enforcement reaction.