IREE, OSUN STATE — The management of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree has announced an immediate closure of the institution following a violent clash allegedly involving rival cult groups near the school gate on Tuesday.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts and video evidence circulating on social media, a group of men, suspected to be cultists, engaged in a brutal fight, with one man struck on the head with a hammer while others watched. One person was reportedly feared dead, though the school and police have not confirmed any fatalities.

The institution’s Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Tope Abiola, confirmed the clash and said the most severely injured person was an ex-student, who graduated two years ago. He added that at least three others sustained injuries, including one hit by a stray bullet.

“We were inside campus when we started hearing gunshots. From the findings, one person was critically injured. I am not aware that anyone died,” Dr. Abiola stated.

Police Respond, Students Sent on Mid-Semester Break

Following the clash, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Osun State Police Command were deployed to restore calm in and around the institution.

Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed the incident and said all injured individuals are receiving treatment at a hospital.

To douse tension and prevent further escalation, the school management swiftly ordered students to proceed on a one-week mid-semester break, effective Thursday, April 10 through Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

In an internal memo signed by the Registrar, Abiodun Oloyede, the school also postponed the 2024/2025 matriculation ceremony, earlier scheduled for Thursday, April 10, indefinitely.

“Management has magnanimously granted a week mid-semester break… to allow all defaulting students to pay their school fees and complete their registration procedure,” the memo read.

“A new date [for matriculation] shall be announced in due course… no further appeal shall be entertained,” it added.

Context and Concern

The clash adds to a growing list of cult-related violence in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with Osun Polytechnic now joining others in taking drastic security measures. The school management’s swift action is being interpreted as both a safety precaution and an administrative opportunity to clear financial backlogs.

Meanwhile, education stakeholders and parents are expressing concern over the recurring cult-related violence and its disruptive impact on academic activities.