No fewer than five persons were reportedly shot dead between Monday night and early hours of Tuesday when members of rival cult gangs closed in Ilesa, Osun State.

The clash which occurred at about 8:00 p.m around Imo, was between suspected members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities in Imo area of Ilesa township.

As a result of the incident, three persons, simply identified as Idowu, Yinka and Eja, were reportedly killed

However, there was reprisal attack around Boluwaduro area on Wednesday, which reportedly led to the killing of another two individuals suspected to be cultists.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Osun Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police in charge of the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, CP Samuel Erale Etaifo, had directed the deployment of operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the area to prevent further escalation, apprehend those responsible and restore calm.

In a statement forwarded to journalists, Ojelabi disclosed that four expended cartridges and two Android mobile phones were recovered from the scene, while preliminary investigations have commenced.

“The Command is also working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify all persons connected with the clash.

“The CP Election has directed the VCRU operatives and other tactical teams to intensify patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations within Ilesa and adjoining areas, particularly around identified flashpoints, to forestall any reprisal attack.”

When contacted on the killing in Boluwaduro area, Ojelabi stated, “We are aware of that incident. So far two people are dead and two people are severely injured. We are suspecting it to be a reprisal attack from what happened yesterday.

He added that investigation was ongoing, and further developments will be communicated to the public.