Three arrested for kidnapping and killing Kwara Polytechnic student

The Kwara State Police Command has caught three suspected members of the Eiye Confraternity. They are linked to the kidnapping and murder of a 29-year-old student from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. The victim is Sodiq Durodola Olaniyi.

The police made the arrests after weeks of careful investigation by the Violent Crime Response Unit. This investigation looked into the student’s disappearance.

Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, shared this news in a statement on Wednesday. She said the investigation revealed what happened to the victim.

She stated, "A thorough and painstaking investigation conducted by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit has unravelled the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a student of Kwara State Polytechnic. This led to the arrest of three suspected members of the notorious Eiye Confraternity for their alleged involvement in the abduction and subsequent murder of the victim."

The PPRO named the suspects as 23-year-old Adeoye Babatunde, known as 'Solar', 25-year-old Bernard Kayode, called 'KK', and 27-year-old Owoyemi Bashiru, known as 'GDP'.

Ejire-Adeyemi explained that the suspects were arrested on Monday during planned operations in known cult hideouts around Ilorin. She said, "Acting on credible intelligence and sustained investigation, VCRU operatives on Monday, June 29, 2026, conducted coordinated tactical operations on identified cult hideouts within Ilorin metropolis. This led to the arrest of Adeoye Babatunde Alimi, alias 'Solar'; Bernard Kayode, alias 'KK'; and Owoyemi Bashiru, alias 'GDP'."

"Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are members of a violent cult group allegedly responsible for the abduction of Sodiq Durodola Olaniyi, an indigene of Oyo State who had been missing since June 4, 2026."

The spokesperson reported that the suspects confessed to their roles during questioning. They admitted that the victim was killed after being taken.

"During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their respective roles in the crime and disclosed that the victim was executed by members of the cult group after his abduction."

"Investigation further revealed that the criminal gang has twelve members, with nine other suspects still on the run. Tactical efforts have since been intensified to catch other fleeing members of the gang, dismantle the criminal network, and recover the corpse of the victim," the PPRO stated.

Ejire-Adeyemi added that the suspects are helping investigators with important information about other violent crimes linked to the group in Ilorin. She said, "The suspects presently in custody are also assisting investigators with useful information regarding other violent crimes allegedly perpetrated by the group within Ilorin metropolis."

"Investigation is ongoing, and all persons found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law upon the conclusion of the investigation," she said.

This latest arrest comes during rising concerns about cult violence in Kwara State. In Ilorin, rival cult groups have been involved in deadly clashes in recent weeks. On June 15, at least four people were killed, and two others were injured in a suspected cult-related shooting around the Post Office area of the state capital. This led to increased security operations by the police and other law enforcement agencies.