A man known as Small Rugged was killed in a daylight attack in the Italolokan area of Osogbo, Osun State, on Friday, October 2, 2026, when heavily armed assailants struck and fled the scene. The Osun State Police Command confirmed that two people died at the scene and four others sustained gunshot injuries during what it described as a suspected clash between rival cult groups.
Attack Details and Casualties
Witnesses said the attackers struck in the afternoon, sending residents, motorists, and traders into panic. Small Rugged was reportedly axed to death during the assault. A second person, identified only as Oosa, a known associate of Small Rugged, was also said to have been killed, while another victim remained unidentified as of press time. Several other people sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospitals.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Abiodun Ojelabi, described the incident as a suspected clash between rival cult groups around the Oke-Bale area of Osogbo. Ojelabi said two people died at the scene, with Small Rugged identified as one of the deceased. Four other people with gunshot injuries were rescued by police operatives and taken to hospital.
Police Response and Investigation
As reported by the Nigerian Tribune, Ojelabi said the Commissioner of Police had directed tactical teams to move into the area immediately to begin efforts to apprehend those responsible. He urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their own hands, and share any useful information with the police.
The circumstances behind the attack had not been established at the time of reporting. Sources offered conflicting explanations. One suggested Small Rugged may have been targeted due to an alleged connection to Olalekan Oyeyemi, known as Emir Ajagungbade, who was killed in Ile-Ife two weeks earlier. Another account pointed to a clash with a rival group. Neither version was independently confirmed. Investigators had also not established whether the two killings were linked, and the police said the circumstances surrounding the Osogbo shooting remained under active investigation.
Community Impact and Fears of Reprisals
The violence forced road users to abandon routes around Oja-Oba, Oke-Ayepe, Isale-Osun and nearby areas. Traders in some locations shut their shops, and many residents stayed indoors. A resident named Adekunle, who lives near the area where the attack occurred, expressed concern, saying: "Of particular concern is the fact that the reported attack occurred during the day and in a populated part of the state capital."
Community members warned that unverified information circulating after the attack risked deepening tensions and encouraging reprisals. The police reiterated their commitment to protecting lives and property across Osun State, stressing that anyone found responsible for the violence would face prosecution.
Previous Cult-Related Shooting in Osogbo
Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that Adejuwon Adekunle, aka Asa, was shot by unidentified gunmen near a recreation centre in Osogbo in the early hours of Tuesday. The Osun State Police Command said preliminary findings pointed to a possible cult-related motive behind the shooting. The case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department and no arrests have been made yet.
