Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Osun State Police Command has issued a stern and unambiguous warning against a planned protest allegedly linked to a faceless group calling itself the "Congress of Cultists," which intelligence has associated with the Neo-Black Movement, also known as Black Axe. The warning, delivered in a statement on Sunday, September 20, 2026, by the Command's spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura, made it clear that the police will not stand by while any group attempts to disrupt the peace of the state.
According to the statement, the police became aware of a notice of protest purportedly issued by the group through intelligence available to the Command. The Command described the group as faceless and said its alleged association with the Neo-Black Movement, a confraternity that has been linked to violent activities across Nigeria's South-West, was a cause for serious concern. The police warned that anyone planning to cause chaos, disturb public peace, or engage in criminal activities during the proposed protest should reconsider their plans.
"The police and other security agencies will not fold their hands and allow miscreants to use any opportunity to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere and destruction of lives and properties," the statement read. "Our operatives will respond decisively and appropriately to any action capable of threatening the peace and security of the state". The warning was not limited to the planned protest alone. The Command also addressed individuals or groups with grievances or disputes, advising them to seek lawful means of resolving their differences rather than resorting to violence, self-help, or reprisal attacks.
The warning comes amid an ongoing investigation into a recent killing in the state. The police disclosed that a thorough and discreet investigation had commenced into the incident and that the investigation had already yielded useful leads. According to the Command, some suspects identified in connection with the killing are currently at large, and efforts are ongoing to track them down and bring them to justice. The Command appealed to members of the public with useful information about the killing to come forward, assuring them that such information would be treated with the necessary confidentiality.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Zungura, also called on parents, community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to prevail on youths and others within their communities against participating in activities capable of destabilising the state. The Command urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and vigilant, while reporting suspicious activities or movements to the nearest police station or other security agency. It reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace and public order across Osun State.
The Neo-Black Movement, also known as Black Axe, is one of Nigeria's most notorious confraternities. It was founded at the University of Benin in the 1970s and has since spread across campuses and communities, evolving from a campus-based fraternity into a criminal network allegedly involved in extortion, armed robbery, cult clashes, and killings. The group has been proscribed by the Nigerian government, and its members have been arrested and prosecuted in various states. In Osun State, the police have previously issued warnings against cult-related activities, including a July 2026 advisory against planned celebrations by secret cult groups.
The planned protest by the "Congress of Cultists" is a troubling development. Protests are a legitimate form of political expression, protected by Nigeria's Constitution. However, when a protest is organised by a group that intelligence links to a violent confraternity, the police have a duty to intervene before it becomes a cover for criminal activity. The Command's statement makes it clear that it is not opposing protest as a right but opposing the hijacking of a protest by individuals who have no interest in peaceful assembly. The description of the group as faceless is significant. It suggests that the organisers are unwilling to identify themselves, which raises questions about their motives and their commitment to peaceful means.
The timing of the warning is also important. It comes just weeks after the Osun governorship election, which was won by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party. The election was marred by violence, and there have been lingering tensions in the state. A protest by a cult-linked group could easily be exploited by political actors or criminal elements to create chaos and destabilise the state. The police are clearly aware of this risk and have chosen to act pre-emptively rather than reactively.
The Command's decision to combine the warning with an update on the investigation into the recent killing is a deliberate strategy. It sends a message that the police are not only focused on preventing the planned protest but are also actively pursuing justice for the victim of the killing. By appealing for public cooperation and reassuring residents that information will be treated confidentially, the police are attempting to build trust with communities that have historically been wary of law enforcement.
For the people of Osun State, the police warning is a reminder of the fragility of public order and the constant threat posed by cultism and criminality. The state has enjoyed relative peace in recent months, but the emergence of a planned protest by a group linked to the Black Axe is a warning sign that the underlying tensions have not disappeared. The police have promised to respond decisively to any threat to peace. It is now up to the organisers of the protest and their sponsors to heed the warning or face the consequences.
As the situation develops, the police have urged residents to remain calm and vigilant. The Command's operatives are on high alert, and the message is clear: Osun State will not be turned into a battleground for cultists and their sponsors. The law will take its course, and those who choose to test the resolve of the police will do so at their own peril.
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