Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital was on Monday thrown into panic mode by suspected cultists who engaged each other in a bloody clash which claimed the lives of three person, including one of the alleged cultists said to have been married a few days ago.
CityVoice correspondent report that the incident, which occurred in Elega and Ago-Odo area of Abeokuta North Local Government Area, saw the entire vicinities being thrown into confusion as members of the Eiye and Aiye confraternity engaged in free for all.
An alleged leader of one of the groups, identified as Ibrahim Alamutu, was reported to have strangled after bullets earlier pumped intohim failed to penetrate his body. It was learnt that the fracas was the fallout of last weekend’s power tussle between the groups at a pub located inside the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta.
Monday’s clash climaxed in the killing of three people, as findings showed that.the first victim, said to be a 32 years old popularly called Emir, had his throat slashed while his esophagus and his left palm was removed from his body and taken away.
In what appeared like a reprisal attack, members of Eiye reportedly stormed Ago-Odo around 7.30 am during which another two were killed.
Two buildings within Sodolamu’s compound and a nearby building were completely razed while no fewer than ten vehicles were vandalised.
As the fight spread like wildfire, security operatives, including men of the Department of State Security; men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad and scores of policemen were led to the scene by the Abeokuta Area Commander, Presley Dodeh and the Divisional Police Officer of Adatan, Ogunjobi Tolani.
The operatives, who drove into the scene in 14 Hilux Vans and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), later raided a house belonging to a kingpin of Aiye and a member of Oodua Peoples Congress.
Lateef Koleoso, whose Nissan Commercial vehicle was also damaged, said about 200 gang members had earlier stormed the area in the late hours of Sunday.
He added that on Monday, the ‘boys’ later came back in about 20 vehicles and motorcycles, shooting sporadically.
The Ogun State Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed that over 30 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings.
“Today around 0700Hrs, the Command was aware of clash between some suspected groups of cultists. We moved to the place, when we got there, we found a lifeless body of one Alamutu, that was killed and found in his pool of blood’, he said.
“The corpse has been taken to the Mortuary. The Command immediately swung into action when the Commissioner gave a directive that every police outfit inOgun State should be on its toe, including the PRO’s office.
“As I am talking to you in Abeokuta, particularly in Ago-Odo, Elega, Iberekodo towards Adatan Axis, the team I led arrested almost 13 suspects while the team led by the Area Commander and the DPO arrested almost 20.
“We are having almost 30 suspects. We are still going to screen them. We are not saying all of them are cultists and we are not saying they were the ones responsible for the killing of Alamutu. We have just commenced our investigation, it is too early for us to jump into conclusion.’