Students Union Laments Over activities of Cultists, as gunmen kill two
Recently, a final year student of History and Diplomatic Studies at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, was reportedly killed on the campus premises by suspected cultists .
It was gathered from a student who spoke on condition of anonymity that the victim, identified as Olaoye Fabiyi, was reportedly dragged out of the examination hall while writing his final papers by some men.
The men reportedly dragged him to a corner where they shot at him and hit him with a brick on the head.
The source told our correspondents that the assailants had on several occasions tried to woo Olaoye to join them, but when he remained adamant, they waited until his last days in the University to deal with him.
The source who pleaded for anonymity said the Cultists today has been very deadly, if they tried to convince you to join and you rejected their offer, they will surely get you, because they will think that you have known much about their operations.
He mentioned an example of one Anuoluwapo Abiodun Faleye who was on several occasions told to be part of a cultists group, but kept on refusing. They tried several means to ensure that he joined the group, but he kept on evading them.
Several attempts were made on the life of Anuoluwapo, before he left the school in Oyo State, and when he also attended Ajayi Crowther University for his Master’s Degree, they still trailed him to that School, not until he had to flee to an unknown destination without completing his academic program at the School.
As I speak to you now, nobody knows his whereabouts as those guys are still bent on getting him out any day they see him. They claimed that he had known much about them
He revealed that even Anuoluwapo Abiodun Faleye Aunt that was assisting him while in School has warned that he should not come to her again because of threats from the cultists.
He revealed that why they are eager to cut him down at all cost was that he had known much about their operations and witnessed some of their heinous activities, especially a day that they allegedly killed one student for disobeying their order.
Another source, one Mr Abdul Jelili who while speaking with Our Correspondent on how deadly these campus cultists are said his nephew, Kunle Sotayo was brutally murdered even years after he had left the University.
He narrated that his Nephew has visited him at the family house in Idi-Aba Abeokuta, but when he was returning to his base in Lagos, the cultists waylaid him at Sapon motor Park and rain him bullet on his chest. He died immediately.
It could also be recalled that just recently a final-year student of Niger Delta University (NDU), Abinna Precious Briggs, has lost his life in a cult-related violence incident in Amassoma, Bayelsa State.
According to reports, Briggs was shot by suspected cultists last week, and died shortly after due to injuries sustained. The incident has raised concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the state.
This incident has raised security concerns as Bayelsa State has witnessed a surge in cult-related violence in recent months, resulting in multiple fatalities.
According to reports in January 2025, clashes between rival cult groups claimed several lives, and in February 2025, a stray bullet killed a trader at the Swali Ultra-Modern Market.
In the past one week tension has been high in Yenagoa metropolis, as cult gangs have gone berserk with reported cases of shootings and killings in different parts of the state capital, Yenagoa.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Atonyenu Francis Idu has vowed to crack down on cultism, prosecuting not only active participants but also their sponsors and sympathizers.
Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered in January, recent killings suggest the pact has failed to stem the tide of violence.
Civil society organizations and community leaders have urged the state government to intensify efforts in curbing youth restiveness, strengthening community policing, and establishing rehabilitative programs for cultists willing to renounce violence.
In another development a yet-to-be-identified student of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, was shot dead in a suspected cult-related attack.
It was learnt that the incident occurred shortly after students concluded their examinations for the day.
Our correspondent gathered that the deceased was heading towards the back gate of the institution when some armed men accosted him, pulled out a gun and shot him at close range.
A student privy to the incident revealed that the incident threw the campus into panic as students, who witnessed the shooting, scampered for safety.
The student who did not want his name in print due to the sensitive nature of the incident said, “The student had just finished writing his exams and was heading towards the back gate when some boys approached him and shot him twice on the spot. The whole scenario happened very fast.”
Another student, who craved anonymity, said the assailants recovered a firearm from the deceased.
“The incident looked more like a cult attack because the victim seemed to have been armed before he was killed. We learnt immediately the boys shot him, they searched his bag and recovered a gun and a bullet. They also made sure he was dead before they left.”
Our correspondent gathered that a similar incident occurred on the school premises the previous week.
A source in the school linked the attack to an ongoing rivalry between cult groups on campus.
The source said, “The killing was in retaliation for a shooting that occurred last week. One suspected cult member was shot but he survived. So this looks more like a payback,” the source claimed.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Yabatech, Adekunle Adams, said the incident did not occur on the premises of the institution.
He said, “The incident occurred but not in the college. It happened at a lounge close to the college. There is no cult-related incident in the college, nothing of such.”
The Lagos State Police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the deceased was shot by cult members.
The incident occurred barely 24 hours after a 16-year-old boy, identified simply as Mustapha, was killed by a stray bullet during a suspected cult clash at Oyingbo in the Ebute Metta area of the state.
It was learnt that the incident occurred during a peace walk organised by some youths in a bid to address rising cult-related violence in the community.
It was gathered that the walk had just concluded when an argument broke out among them resulting in a shootout that led to some casualties.
Similarly, residents discovered the bodies of two men on Sunday, one of whom had been beheaded in a cult-related attack in the Idimu area of the state.
Our Correspondent learnt that the killings occurred late Saturday night, but the corpses were only discovered on Sunday morning along Oladun Road.
Speaking on the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State incident, an eyewitness said the cultists that attacked Olaoye waited to ensure that he was dead before leaving the scene.
The source said, “They (History and Diplomatic Studies students) were having their final paper today when some boys suspected to be cultists stormed the examination venue and dragged him out.
“They kicked him, shot at him, and hit him with a brick on the head.
“It was when they realised he was lifeless that they left before the school security men came to pick him up at the school clinic, where he was confirmed dead.”
Confirming the incident in a statement on Wednesday, the school’s Students Union President, Bethel Olorunfunmi, said efforts to save the life of the victim by medical personnel proved abortive.
Olorunfunmi said, “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of a tragic incident that occurred today. A fellow student was attacked on the school premises and, despite the best efforts of medical staff at the general hospital, he sadly passed away. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the student during this difficult time.
“In the light of this event, we are implementing strict security measures to ensure the safety of all students. Effective immediately, a mandatory curfew is in place, requiring all students to remain indoors starting at 10pm tonight (Wednesday).
“Please understand that this measure is being taken with your safety as our utmost priority. We are working closely with university authorities and law enforcement agencies, who are conducting a thorough investigation and enhancing security across the campus.”
Also, the National Clerk of the National Association of Nigeria Students, Oladimeji Uthman, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with one of our correspondents on Wednesday.
He said the activities of the cultists have been very deadly in the University, he confirmed that several students including one Anuoluwapo Abiodun Faleye had complained of their attempt to engage them into their midst, and when they rejected, they threatened to kill them and only God can save such a soul.
He said, “So saddening and disheartening. A final-year student writing his final paper. As leaders, we are on top of the situation.”
Meanwhile, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Ayotunde Odubela, said she was not aware of the incident when contacted by our correspondent.
“I am not aware of the incident,” Odubela said.
But the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the killing to one of our correspondents.
She disclosed that the command had begun an investigation.
