The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the death of one undergraduate student following a suspected cult-related clash in the Ede area of Osun State.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the development on Thursday, stating that investigation into the incident has commenced.
According to him, the tragic incident occurred late Tuesday night at an off-campus students’ residence in Ede, where armed assailants, suspected to be members of a rival cult group, allegedly stormed the apartment and attacked the occupants.
Reports within the community disclosed that about six students were attacked during the invasion, which eyewitnesses described as brutal and coordinated.
However, tension has since gripped the Ede community following the deadly attack, which reportedly claimed the lives of two undergraduates and left several others critically injured.
A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack was linked to an ongoing rivalry between suspected cult groups operating in the area.
According to the source, the victims were inside their apartment when the attackers forcefully gained access and assaulted them with dangerous weapons.
“The students were caught unaware in their room when the attackers invaded the apartment. They inflicted severe injuries on the victims, and unfortunately, two of them later died,” the source revealed.
The injured victims were reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, an anti-cultism advocacy platform, Naija Confra, also confirmed the incident in a post circulating online, alleging that members of a rival cult group carried out the deadly operation.
The platform claimed that the attackers allegedly traced a suspected Buccaneer cult member identified simply as Dara to the residence, where other suspected members were gathered at the time of the attack.
According to the platform, “Aye members stormed the house and launched a brutal attack. Two persons, including the first mate and another member identified as SJ, were confirmed dead, while others, including the alleged leader of the group, are currently in critical condition.”
However, the Osun State Police Command gave a slightly different account of the casualty figure.
Ojelabi confirmed that a cult-related clash occurred in Ede but stated that only one death had been officially recorded by the police.
“Suspected cultists had a clash on Tuesday, and one person was killed. Investigation is ongoing,” Ojelabi said.
The incident has heightened concerns among residents over the growing menace of cult-related violence involving youths and students in tertiary institution communities across Osun State.
Residents have called on security agencies and school authorities to intensify surveillance and strengthen measures aimed at curbing cultism and other violent crimes threatening public safety.
