In anticipation of the annual Founder’s Day celebration of the Neo-Black Movement of Africa, also known as the Aiye Confraternity or Black Axe, the Oyo State Police Command has deployed officers across the state to avert potential violence.
The event, slated for Monday, July 7, 2025, is known to attract large gatherings that occasionally lead to clashes with rival cult groups.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, intelligence reports indicated the likelihood of coordinated reprisals and public unrest linked to the celebration.
“Our intelligence-led policing and community partnership efforts have yielded vital information suggesting that rival gangs may engage in large-scale retribution and mayhem during this event,” Osifeso disclosed.
To curb any potential threat, the police have positioned personnel at key locations throughout the state. Osifeso emphasized that this strategic deployment was designed to ensure swift response and maintain public order throughout the period of the celebration.
As part of preventive steps, the command has held awareness sessions with hospitality business operators, including hoteliers, lounge owners, and managers of short-let apartments. These meetings, according to Osifeso, were aimed at discouraging the use of such venues for cult-related activities. “The command warns against offering facilities to groups with violent reputations,” he stated.
He noted that security reports had raised red flags about possible cult reprisals that could destabilize communities. The police believe the Founder’s Day could be exploited as a platform for executing long-standing vendettas between cult factions, leading to wider public safety concerns.
Osifeso also appealed to community members to play a role in preventing the escalation of cult-related violence. “It is crucial to engage our youth in conversations about the dangers of cultism and the severe consequences of participating in violent or unlawful gatherings,” he said.
The command urged parents, traditional leaders, and local influencers to collaborate with law enforcement in discouraging cultism and ensuring peace. Authorities remain on alert, vowing to take decisive action against anyone attempting to breach public order during the celebration.
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