The Osun State Police Command has announced the arrest of three suspected cultists and political thugs, and the recovery of firearms, ammunition, charms and other dangerous weapons during separate operations in the state.

The command disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan.

According to the statement, “the arrests were part of ongoing efforts by the police to ensure that Osun State remains a sanctuary for law-abiding residents and not a safe haven for criminal elements.”

The police identified the suspects as 27-year-old Adekola Olayinka Abdulazeez, 28-year-old Omolara Ezekiel, and 32-year-old Babatunde Azeez.

Items recovered from the suspects, the statement revealed, included “three English Beretta pistols, one live round of ammunition, one cut-to-size gun, two live cartridges, four cutlasses and three axes.”

The police said the operation began on “May 22, 2026, at about 10:00 a.m., when a patrol team attached to the Ikirun Area Command intercepted Abdulazeez while conducting a routine stop-and-search exercise.”

According to the command, “the suspect was riding an unregistered motorcycle when he was stopped and searched by officers. During the search, two English Beretta pistols, an axe and charms were allegedly recovered from him.

“The case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, where detectives attached to the Anti-Robbery Section commenced further investigations.”

Police said Abdulazeez allegedly confessed during interrogation that he was a member of the Eiye Confraternity and claimed that he was on his way to deliver the recovered arms and ammunition to another member, identified as Omolara Ezekiel, before his arrest.

The statement added that intelligence-led investigations later led to the arrest of Ezekiel and Babatunde Azeez, during which officers recovered a cut-to-size gun and another Beretta pistol loaded with one live round of ammunition.

The police further disclosed that “searches conducted at the suspects’ residences and surrounding premises resulted in the recovery of four cutlasses, two axes and two live cartridges.

“Investigations are continuing, while efforts are underway to apprehend other suspected members linked to the group.”

CP Gotan also warned political thugs, miscreants and other individuals who may be planning to disrupt public peace in the state to desist from such activities.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to identify and eliminate criminal elements across Osun State.

As part of preparations for the state’s planned mass wedding, the Kano State Hisbah Board has announced that nearly 720 prospective couples have so far undergone medical screening across 24 local government areas.

The figure forms part of the 3,000 prospective couples the state intends to marry soon in a state-sponsored mass wedding for the less privileged.

DAILY POST recalls that the Hisbah Board, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, has been mandated to conduct mandatory tests for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, genotype compatibility, drug use, pregnancy, and other sexually transmitted infections to ensure healthy unions.

The Deputy Commander-General of the Board, Mujahideen Aminudddeen, confirmed the development in a statement, saying the exercise is ongoing, with couples from metropolitan local government areas scheduled to continue their screening on Wednesday at the Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KSACA) office along Naibawa.

He explained that participants are expected to present copies of their registration forms at the venue, adding that couples from the remaining local government areas will be notified of their screening dates in due course.

The mass wedding programme, revived under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is designed to support widows, divorcees, orphans, and other less-privileged residents by covering marriage expenses and providing financial and household support.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has vowed to intensify raid operations on drug flashpoints across the state.
DAILY POST reports that Dr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, Commander of the Edo State Command of the agency, stated this when he played host to the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, and the President of the Faculty of Peace Organization, Osunbor Kelly Omokaro, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Benin City.

Ofoyeju said the operations are aimed at ensuring peaceful and violence-free elections across the state.

According to him, “We will conduct targeted raid operations on identified drug flashpoints before, during and after the elections. Our goal is to take illicit drugs off the streets and deny criminal elements the means to cause disruption.

“Nigerians deserve peaceful, credible elections, and NDLEA will help pave the way for that,” he said.

He opined that the visits underscored the Edo State Command of the NDLEA’s growing collaboration with government institutions and civil society in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.

While expressing satisfaction with the President of the Faculty of Peace Organization and other members, he promised to work closely with the organization in its targeted areas of focus.

He added that drug abuse prevention requires all hands on deck.

“We welcome partners like your organisation who are committed to building a drug abuse-free society through education and accountability. Together, we can save more youths from the scourge of drugs,” he added.

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Obo Effanga, commended the command for its support and professionalism during previous election monitoring assignments in Edo State.

Effanga opined that INEC’s success in past elections was partly due to the NDLEA’s role in curbing drug-induced violence capable of undermining peaceful elections.

He, however, solicited renewed collaboration from the agency for the forthcoming elections, noting that drug and substance abuse remain major drivers of electoral violence.

On his part, Osunbor Kelly Omokaro stated that the NGO focuses on promoting a culture of excellence, budget tracking for transparency, and drug abuse prevention among youths.

Omokaro also commended the NDLEA in the state for its visible efforts in reducing the supply of drugs and appealed for closer collaboration in advocacy, sensitisation, and community outreach programmes.