Police Arrest Notorious Cult Leader, Gang Members in Osun

 

Operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Osun State Command, have arrested a suspected notorious cult leader, Amokeaja Basit, popularly known as “Basit,” alongside several members of his gang in the Ijesha area of the state.

The arrests followed distress calls indicating that some prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) narrowly escaped death after a violent attack allegedly carried out by the group.

Acting on the intelligence, the Commissioner of Police in the state directed the Anti-Cultism Unit to mobilise operatives to the scene.

According to a police situation report, the incident occurred on March 23, 2026, when armed hoodlums suspected to be members of the dreaded Black Axe, also known as the Aye Confraternity, attacked a convoy conveying political figures in Ilesa.

Those reportedly targeted in the attack include Hon. Wole Awofolaju, Personal Assistant to Francis Fadahunsi; Hon. Seun Fadunsin; Hon. Remi Omowaye; and Hon. Segun Olabode, Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government Area.

Police operatives subsequently stormed the crime scene at Adeti Area, Isida, Ilesa, leading to the arrest of five suspects identified as Amokeaja Basit (alias “Basit”), Olatunde Segun, Adeyeye Suji, Babatunde Lekan, and Olayinka Laide.

The police said investigations are ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to track down and apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.