Ogun Crisis: Many killed as rival cultist groups clash in Abeokuta, residents live in fear

Abeokuta residents in Ogun State are beginning to lose count of how many people have been killed by suspected cultists; lately, reports reveal

The Governor, Dapo Abiodun-led administration, is still in search of solutions to the herdsmen crises in the Yewa area of the state, while the residents of the Ogun state capital city are looking for a way out of the continuous killings caused by cult clashes.

Aside from those who have died in the cult clashes across Abeokuta, reports have it that a good score of persons have incurred varying degrees of injuries, even as the incidents continue with no end in view.

Findings by newsmen reveal that majority of the clashes have always been on the matter of leadership and supremacy. A fight for power between different cultist groups like Axe men, Eiye, Alora, and a number of others have caused the death of many people.

In retaliation to the death of their member, the rival cult group would respond with the killing of their rival group member.

Whenever the rival cult clashed, residents say they always armed with weapons, like guns, causing fear in the community.

“In Igbore, whenever they start their clashes, people will be running helter-skelter. Traders will have no choice other than to lock up their shops for safety. They fight any time, be it day or night,” a resident, who identified herself as Aanu, told newsmen.

Up to ten persons have been killed in the past few weeks In Ago Ijesha area of Ijeun Titun, by the rival cult groups, newsmen confirms

A reliable but anonymous source told our newsmen that two persons were reportedly killed at Obantoko.

The source further reveals that it’s almost impossible for a night to pass without a reported case of killing in many police divisions of the city.

“In the last few weeks, I don’t think a night can pass without a case of cult killing in the various divisions in Abeokuta. In fact, the Ijaye State Hospital mortuary officials are already tired of how police bring corpses every day. Many have been sent to the great beyond in the past few weeks. We don’t know what is happening,” the source told newsmen.

Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, had earlier promised to deal with criminals threatening the peace of the state.

“We will not condone any act of criminality in the state no matter who is involved. We will not allow anybody to disrupt the peace in Ogun State, and anyone who tries to test our resolve to maintain peace in our state will have himself or herself to blame”, the governor had said.

The residents, however, have been complaining as the crisis continues without any change in view, Abeokuta that the Dapo-Abiodun-led administration is not doing enough to protect lives and property.

In its defense, the police, through its public relations officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police are doing their best to apprehend those creating mayhem in the state capital.

Oyeyemi said this during an interview with newsmen.

He said, “Nobody will say the police are not doing anything about cult clashes, considering the number of arrests we have made. These cult clashes are something we have been urging the public to give us information about. It is when they start attacking before people will start calling us that this is what is happening.

“We have been living up to the expectation on this issue. We’ve made a lot of arrests. Many of them have been prosecuted; some are still under investigation. So, for anybody to say police are not doing anything about it, I think it is an unfair comment on their part.

“How many of them do a follow-up after they make a report to know whether the person they reported, we’re investigating him or not? Some will even make a report, and after the arrest, they will just abandon the case and move away,”

 

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