The Oyo State Police Command has arrested the custodian of the Asoleke masquerade following the alleged killing of a 24-year-old man during a traditional procession in the Labiran area of Ibadan.
Police said the incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026, when the victim, identified as Sefiu Kehinde, reportedly encountered the Asoleke masquerade and its followers while walking through the area.
According to the command, a relative of the deceased, Mrs. Aderemi, reported the incident at the Mapo Divisional Police Headquarters after receiving a distress call from her elder sister. She alleged that the masquerade and some of its followers attacked Kehinde with dangerous weapons, including axes and machetes, inflicting severe injuries on him.
A police patrol team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Mapo Division responded to the scene and rushed the victim to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.
However, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Oluseyi Olayinka, confirmed that doctors pronounced the victim dead on arrival.
“The scene of the incident was visited, documented and photographed by investigators. Following necessary procedures, the remains of the deceased were released to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites,” the police spokesperson said.
The police confirmed that the custodian of the Asoleke masquerade has been arrested in connection with the incident, while four other suspects believed to have participated in the attack remain at large.
Commissioner of Police Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation and directed officers to ensure that all those involved are apprehended and prosecuted.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns over violence associated with some traditional masquerade processions in Ibadan, with residents calling for stricter regulation of cultural festivals to prevent similar occurrences.
The Oyo State Police Command appealed to members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with investigators by providing useful information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspects. It assured residents that justice would be pursued and that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.