Two Osun Undergraduates Killed in Suspected Cult Attack 

Two yet-to-be-identified undergraduates have been killed in a suspected cult attack in the Ede area of Osun State. PUNCH Metro learnt on Wednesday that the incident occurred on Tuesday night, May 26, 2026. It was gathered that the students, numbering about six, were attacked in their off-campus apartment by suspected cultists. A police source who did not want to be named because of the sensitive nature of the incident told our correspondent that the attack stemmed from an ongoing cult rivalry in the area.

“The attack occurred in the night. The students were in their room when some cultists who were on a revenge mission forced their way into the apartment and started attacking them with dangerous weapons,” the source disclosed. “The students sustained varying degrees of injuries, and two later succumbed to their injuries,” the source added. The source further stated that the injured victims had been hospitalised and were currently receiving treatment.

An anti-cultism advocacy platform, Naija Confra, also confirmed the incident, providing additional details about the possible motive. The platform alleged that suspected members of the Aye confraternity tracked a Buccaneer member identified simply as Dara to the apartment before launching the attack. “Aye, the hit squad tracked a Buccaneer named Dara to his house. Dara holds the position of first shipmate, and the first shipmate is always with the number one man (Big Eye),” the platform wrote. “When they got there, both the first shipmate, the Big Eye, and other officeholders were in the house. They were seriously attacked.” “Two have been reported dead, including the first mate and another person described as the SJ. Other Buccaneers inside the house are in critical condition in the hospital, including the number one man,” Naija Confra stated.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that a cult clash occurred. However, he noted that only one person was killed, contradicting reports from other sources. “Suspected cultists had a clash on Tuesday, and one person was killed. Investigation is ongoing,” Ojelabi stated. The police spokesperson assured that efforts were underway to track down the assailants and bring them to justice.

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This incident adds to a troubling pattern of cult-related violence in Osun State. In March 2026, the state police command arrested five suspected cultists involved in violent clashes within the Ilesa metropolis. Speaking on that incident, Ojelabi told The PUNCH that the Police Anti-Cultism Team arrested the suspects following an exchange of gunshots between rival groups. “On Monday, there was a cult clash around Adeti area, Ilesa at about 7pm, and five people were arrested by the anti-cultism squad and we recovered an axe and some criminal charms,” Ojelabi said at the time. “At first, we thought they were armed hoodlums but when we arrested some of them, preliminary investigations showed that they were cultists,” he added.

In April 2026, it was reported that cult clashes had escalated across the state, with at least five persons reportedly killed in Ilobu, Esa-Oke and Ede within a two-week period, according to Naija Confra. The clashes were reportedly between Buccaneer (BAN) and Aye (NBM) cult groups. In one incident on Friday, March 27, 2026, a suspected Aye member named Moro, popularly known as MOAS Grill, was reportedly killed in Esa-Oke. A reprisal attack followed on Monday night when an unidentified person was killed, suspected to be in retaliation for Moro’s death. In Ilobu, a Buccaneer named Jamiu, a barber, was on the same day killed by suspected Aye members, while a retaliatory attack by Buccaneers on Saturday morning left two victims dead. The attacks reportedly stemmed from a personal dispute where an Aye member accused a Buccaneer of snatching his girlfriend.

The cult violence has also directly impacted the Ede area’s educational institutions. A cult-related incident occurred at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, between BAN and Eiye (ACN) cult groups. The incident reportedly started outside the school when an Eiye cultist harassed two boys, not knowing they were Buccaneers. It was gathered that the boys later beat up the Eiye cultist, who was said to be an office holder in the Eiye cult. “The Eiye cultists, who wore nose masks and blue caps, later entered the school looking for the Buccaneers. They reportedly saw them and shot at the Buccaneers, but they were lucky to escape,” a source told OSUN DEFENDER. “Other Buccaneers who were also armed inside the school later got involved, chasing the Eiye cultists while also shooting,” the source added.

In a separate incident in May 2026, three students of the Osun State College of Health Technology, Ilesa, were shot by suspected cultists, according to reports. The incident added to growing concerns about cult-related violence targeting students in the state. The victims were reportedly receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility.

The Osun incidents are part of a broader pattern of cult-related violence affecting the South-West region. In Lagos State in April 2026, the police confirmed the killing of a suspected member of the Buccaneer Confraternity, Adedipe Adeyinkan, popularly known as “Agali,” in the Iponri area. The victim was attacked on the National Stadium Bridge inward Iponri at about 11:30 p.m. and later died at Mainland General Hospital, Yaba. Additionally, three men were reportedly hacked to death by suspected cultists in the Lagos Island area after attending a birthday party in the Epetedo community. The victims were reportedly attacked while returning home from the gathering. One managed to escape, while the other three were macheted to death. Naija Confra identified one of the victims as “China” and alleged that members of rival cult groups were involved in the attack. The platform also claimed that a fourth individual, identified as “Sanjo,” escaped.

Cult-related violence has long been a challenge in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with groups such as the Aye Confraternity (also known as Aiye or NBM) and the Buccaneers (also known as Vikings or BAN) among the most prominent. These groups often engage in violent clashes over territory, membership, and retaliation for perceived wrongs. The pattern of attack described by Naija Confra—tracking a rival group member to a residence and launching a coordinated assault—is consistent with reported methods of cult-related reprisal attacks. In April 2026, it was reported that the southwest security network, Amotekun, partnered with the management of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, to combat cult activities on campus, indicating the scale of the problem.

The latest incident has raised concerns about the safety of students in off-campus accommodations in the Ede area. Parents and residents have called on security agencies to intensify patrols and surveillance around student-populated areas. The Osun State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to investigating the incident and apprehending those responsible. As of the time of filing this report, no arrests had been announced in connection with the Ede attack. Security analysts note that cult-related violence often goes unreported or underreported due to fear of reprisal attacks and the secretive nature of cult operations. The police have urged members of the public with information about the incident to come forward to assist with ongoing investigations.

Two Osun Undergraduates Killed in Suspected Cult Attack 

VeryDarkMan Denies Audio Allegations, Says “I Want to Face the Law”

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has denied any connection to a controversial audio recording currently circulating online, describing it as “doctored” and falsely attributed to him . The activist has called on security agencies to investigate the source and circulation of the alleged fake audio, even as fresh investigations by Premium Times revealed that the manipulated video circulating online did not originate from VDM’s original post .

In a statement issued by his legal representatives, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, the activist’s management faulted comments reportedly made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, regarding the audio clip . The statement said a simple verification of VDM’s verified social media platforms would have shown that he neither produced nor shared the audio in question. “It is surprising that, despite the resources available to the Presidency, adverse comments were made concerning our client without proper verification of the facts,” the statement read .

According to the legal team, the development further reinforces the activist’s longstanding concerns about alleged attempts by influential individuals within government to discredit and silence him because of his outspoken stance on issues of public interest . The circulation of the audio, they argued, forms part of efforts aimed at damaging the public image of the social media personality. The lawyers called on relevant security agencies to investigate the origin and circulation of the alleged doctored audio and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. “We accordingly call on the relevant security agencies to investigate the source and circulation of the doctored audio and ensure that those responsible are identified and dealt with in accordance with the law,” the statement added .

In a detailed investigation, Premium Times found that the viral clip circulating online was created after an unidentified individual extracted footage from VDM’s original Instagram video and inserted AI-generated voice notes resembling President Tinubu’s voice, creating the false impression that the activist shared the audio himself . The newspaper’s findings revealed that in the original footage, VDM was reacting to comments made by content creator and philanthropist Mitchell “King Mitchy” Mukoro, who had alleged that his necklace was a charm and claimed he had visited a shrine. While responding, VDM played an old campaign clip of Mr. Tinubu speaking about electricity and governance ahead of the 2023 presidential election .

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In the original campaign footage aired by TVC News, President Tinubu said Nigerians should not vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver on his promises regarding electricity supply. “Whichever way, by all means necessary, you must have electricity, and you won’t pay for estimated bills anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept. If I don’t keep my promise and I run for a second term, don’t vote for me. That’s the truth,” Mr. Tinubu said in the original clip . Premium Times further found that an unidentified individual later extracted portions of the original VDM video and superimposed AI-generated voice notes resembling Mr. Tinubu’s voice before circulating the manipulated version online. The edited clip retained the opening portion of VDM’s original video before switching to the fabricated AI-generated audio, creating the impression that the activist had shared or endorsed the recordings himself. The manipulated clip subsequently circulated widely on social media and eventually prompted Mr. Onanuga to call for the activist’s prosecution .

The altered audio contained AI-generated voice notes falsely attributed to Mr. Tinubu, including claims that he deliberately allowed insecurity to persist in parts of the country for political reasons. The fabricated audio also falsely claimed that the president had asked former Anambra State governor Peter Obi to step down in his favour and threatened to worsen insecurity in the South-east . The audio, which bears the hallmarks of AI voice cloning, features a voice mimicking Tinubu making a series of damaging statements, including that insecurity in the South-East was deliberate, that he had called on Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to step down for him in 2022, that he was indifferent to the suffering of Nigerians, and that loans from the World Bank were being channelled to fund elections .

The dispute began when Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, took to his verified X handle @aonanuga1956 to accuse VDM of abusing social media by disseminating what he called false information capable of misleading the public and damaging the image of the president . “This VDM needs to face the weight of the law for being the conveyor and disseminator of a fake audio of President Tinubu. This is a clear case of an egregious abuse of the social media platform,” Onanuga said . Describing the voice note as manipulated, Onanuga warned that the spread of unverified material poses serious dangers to public trust, national security, and democratic stability. According to the presidential spokesman, those responsible for circulating such content should be held accountable under the law .

In a separate response posted on his social media platforms, VDM declared that he was ready for any legal action and would even return earlier than planned to face the matter . “I will not defend the allegations. If I respond, let God punish me. I want to face that law. I will even book a flight to come earlier than I planned. I want to see what you people can do,” he said . The social media critic maintained that he had a right to speak against the government when he believed it had done wrong. “If you are pained that VDM is speaking, what option do I have other than to speak? It is my right to criticise the government when it is doing wrong. We are in a democracy,” he stated .

In a strongly worded statement, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju slammed the presidency over what he described as its failure to properly verify the fake audio before making public comments . Adeyanju stated that the viral video is not on any social media platform of VDM and that the controversy would have been avoided if proper verification had been conducted. Adeyanju said the presidency’s threat further validates VDM’s longstanding concerns about attempts by powerful people in government to cage him . The statement read in part: “The attention of our client has been drawn to the statement made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, concerning a doctored audio currently circulating online and falsely attributed to our client, Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan. A simple verification of our client’s verified social media platforms would have confirmed that he neither made nor shared the said audio” .

The incident has since sparked conversations online about the dangers of AI-generated misinformation and the speed with which manipulated political content can spread across social media platforms . Several users on X questioned why the presidency moved quickly to call for the activist’s prosecution before independently verifying the authenticity and origin of the altered clip . The controversy highlights growing concerns about the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools to manipulate audio and video content featuring public officials, celebrities, and political figures. Although the AI-generated audio circulated widely online, checks by Premium Times showed that the voice notes were not part of VDM’s original upload and appeared to have been added later by another individual .

In a related development, the Coalition for Ethical Technology and Democratic Integrity recently called on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently criminalise AI-generated blackmail, classifying it as a national security threat and a form of cyber-terrorism, warning that deepfakes and fake content could threaten the credibility of the 2027 elections . The Federal Government had earlier warned the public against a fake AI-generated advertisement using Tinubu’s image and video circulating on Facebook to solicit investments in a Ponzi scheme, with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria warning that violations would attract sanctions . Nigeria’s Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015, as amended in 2024, contains provisions that criminalise the production and distribution of false digital communications designed to cause harm or damage to a person’s reputation, with penalties including imprisonment .

As of the time of filing this report, Mr. Onanuga had not issued any clarification regarding the discovery that the manipulated audio did not originate from the activist’s original video . The legal team has urged authorities to take action against those involved in spreading what they described as misinformation, but directed at tracing the actual source of the doctored audio rather than targeting their client. The development has also reignited conversations around digital verification, misinformation and the responsibility of public officials to fact-check viral content before making public accusations or demands for prosecution . VDM, who is no stranger to controversy and previous legal battles, has maintained his innocence and continues to insist that the audio was falsely attributed to him as part of a coordinated effort to discredit his activism.

VeryDarkMan Denies Audio Allegations, Says “I Want to Face the Law”

Several Fighters Killed As NAF Air Strikes Destroy Terrorist Hideouts in Sambisa

BORNO STATE, NIGERIA – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has delivered a devastating blow to insurgent networks operating in Nigeria’s North-East region, conducting precision air strikes that destroyed key terrorist hideouts and logistics structures at Biramiri in the Gezuwa general area of Borno State.

The coordinated military operation, carried out on May 26, 2026, by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, followed credible Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) reports that pinpointed the exact locations of terrorist camps and support facilities within the notorious Sambisa Forest axis.

According to an official statement released on Tuesday by the Director of Public Relations and Information at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the coordinated precision strikes successfully destroyed key terrorist facilities and neutralised several insurgents operating within the targeted area.

“The coordinated attacks destroyed key terrorist facilities and neutralised several fighters, further crippling the operational capacity of the insurgents,” Ejodame stated.

The NAF spokesperson further revealed that the sustained air offensives have continued to generate fear and confusion among terrorist elements operating across the Sambisa axis.

Sustained Bombardments Deny Terrorists Freedom of Movement – According to Ejodame, intelligence assessments indicate growing apprehension and disorientation within the ranks of the insurgents as continuous bombardments deny them freedom of movement and access to safe havens. The relentless aerial campaign has significantly disrupted the ability of terrorist networks to plan, coordinate, and execute attacks against civilian and military targets in the region.

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Military’s Commitment to North-East Peace – The NAF reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives and restoring lasting peace and security across Nigeria’s crisis-ridden North-East region. “The NAF, in concert with troops of Operation HADIN KAI and other security agencies, remains resolute in maintaining relentless pressure on terrorist networks while reinforcing its commitment to protecting innocent lives and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East,” the statement added.

Pre-Sallah Offensive Intensifies – The latest air strikes form part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to intensify counter-terrorism operations in the North-East region ahead of the Sallah celebration, ensuring that insurgent groups remain on the back foot during the festive period. Military analysts note that such timing is strategic, as terrorist groups often attempt to launch high-profile attacks during major holidays to maximize psychological impact.

Strategic Significance of Sambisa Forest – Sambisa Forest has long served as a notorious hideout for insurgent groups operating in North-East Nigeria, providing dense cover for terrorist activities and serving as a critical logistics and command hub. The forest has also recently witnessed internal power struggles, with reports indicating violent clashes between rival factions Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) for supremacy and control of territory within the forest.

According to security intelligence sources, the latest air strikes mark a significant blow to these networks, further restricting their operational capabilities and denying them critical infrastructure. The successful operation demonstrates the Nigerian military’s enhanced intelligence-gathering capabilities and precision-strike proficiency, as well as its determination to flush out insurgents from their remaining strongholds.

Impact on Terrorist Operations – Intelligence assessments suggest that the continuous aerial bombardments have created a state of disarray within insurgent ranks. The destruction of logistics structures at Biramiri has disrupted supply chains, making it increasingly difficult for terrorist fighters to access weapons, food, and medical supplies. This degradation of operational capacity is expected to reduce the frequency and intensity of insurgent attacks in the coming weeks.

Several Fighters Killed As NAF Air Strikes Destroy Terrorist Hideouts in Sambisa