CRIME & COURT

Cultists’ shootout leaves 10 dead, police say 5

At least 10 people have died from the clashes between rival confraternities in Ilesa, Osun State on Monday and Tuesday. However, the state police command put the death toll at five.

Agency reports that suspected cultists engaged each other in shootouts at Brewery, Ifofin, Idasa, and Irojo areas of the town on Monday and extended to Tuesday.

The fatal clashes resulted in the several casualties.

Mr Busuyi Agunbiade, a resident of the area, told NAN that the clash started from Irojo, around 7p.m. before it spread to other communities where the cultists had strongholds.

“Some guys on motorcycle suddenly started shooting around Irojo inflicting injury on residents in the area, who scamper for safety.

“Then, in what looks like a revenge attack, another set confronted them, and both groups engaged in a shootout.

“Other cultists from other hideouts joined in the fracas thereby spreading the crisis to other parts of the town.

”About 10 people were killed in different areas of the town, majorly cult members,” he said.

The incident has become a source of worry for the town’s monarch, Owa Obokun of Ijesa land, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran.

Aromolaran called the killings “disturbing and unacceptable”.

He urged security agencies to rise to the situation while appealing to other traditional rulers, chiefs, and politicians to support security operatives in restoring the peace.

However, Osun police command disagreed on the casualty figure.

Yemisi Opalola, a superintendent, said only five people died from the cult war.

“More special police units have been deployed to the hotspots to curb breakdown of law and order,” she said.

 

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