BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
At least, five persons, including a fresh graduate, have been killed while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries in pockets of fracas that broke out between members of the Oodua People’s Congress, vigilante and a gang of cultists in Ede, Osun State in the penultimate week.
Houses, vehicles and shops were also torched in the mayhem that left the ancient town in mourning and fear. Some suspected cultists in late February, had struck killing two persons, including one Hassan Adedeji and a motorcyclist.
Adedeji, said to be a fresh graduate of Banking and Finance, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, awaiting call up for the National Youth Service Corps, was hit by a stray bullet while trying to do his clearance within the polytechnic environment.
It was gathered that the victims were shot dead around the Agbalemobode area, very close to the second gate by the rampaging cult members.
Sequel to the murder of the duo, pandemonium erupted in the town the next day as students of the polytechnic, staged a protest to the palace of Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, demanding the arrest of the suspect.
The protesting students had blocked major roads and made bonfires on the roads thereby preventing vehicular movements.
Two days later, the crisis degenerated into a supremacy battle between OPC members, local hunters and vigilantes who attempted to restore order in the community.
Another violent clash occurred among the armed gangs with three other residents of the town reportedly killed and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
Other victims were killed around the Bode, Sagba and Asunmo areas of Ede as the violence went on. The clash between a gang of cultists controlled by one Rasheed Oko-Ilu, a notorious hoodlum, and a team of OPC and vigilantes in Ede resulted in destruction of houses, shops and vehicles in the community.
The violence resumed the third time as the gangs attacked one another with guns and machetes, moving from one part of the town to the other to instill fear in people amid show of superiority. Terrified residents were forced to retire to their houses early while some others ran out of town for safety.
The Timi of Edeland raised the alarm over the growing state of insecurity in his domain with a call for immediate intervention by relevant authorities.
The monarch reportedly blamed the gruesome killing on members of the OPC, Ya-Salam Vigilante and cultists in Edeland.
He lamented that residents of Ede community could no longer sleep with two eyes closed, adding that the security situation in the ancient town had degenerated to a level where everybody became vulnerable to attack and injuries.
“I want to briefly enunciate the genesis of the predicament in which we find ourselves. The crisis started with the conflict between the factional group of Odua People Congress – Gani Adams and Faseun (groups). It later escalated to a crisis between the OPC and Ya Salam group of vigilantes over control of the security of Ede land. Later, there was also a supremacy crisis between the OPC, vigilante and local traditional hunters where the traditional hunters were displaced from performing their traditional duties of guarding the community by the OPC and the Ya-Salam group of the vigilante.
“Also, the undisclosed personal grudge between members of OPC, the National Hunter Association, the Ya Salam vigilante group and the cultists metamorphosed into a serious war in the community.
“I want to say with emphasis that the OPC, Ya-Salam vigilante and the cultists are terrorising the Ede community now. I am, therefore, appealing to the governments, the security agents and the general public to call on these notorious groups to allow peace to reign.
“The security situation in Ede today is pathetic and unbearable. It has degenerated to a level where everybody is vulnerable to attacks and injuries. The community members are being threatened physically, psychologically, emotionally and economically.
“It is, therefore, very imperative that the governments and other security stakeholders should swing into action by intervening to avoid further loss of lives and property. It is very uncultured seeing human blood flow in the day light. Life has no meaning to these intoxicated blood suckers.
“As usual, the palace is opened to those who are willing to proffer lasting solutions to this crisis. More suggestions and advice are welcome from people that may want to give it.
“I deeply sympathise with the families whose relatives were killed and maimed. And, to those whose houses were razed, I implore you to leave vengeance to Almighty God, the giver and taker of life.
“The warring groups are mandated to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign in Ede and its environment. Enough of this panic, pandemonium and unnecessary tension. History will not forget and forgive whoever caused grief and made innocent people shed tears.
“Nemesis and retributive justice will definitely catch up with whoever makes Ede to be in this precarious situation. I admonish you, the terrorists to be humane, considerate and tolerate others. Give peace a chance,” the monarch pleaded.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun State Command, Superintendent of Police, Yemisi Opalola, has said that two persons had been arrested in connection with the killings in the town.
She said, “The prime suspect, Rasheed Oko-Ilu, killed a man at his den. We discovered the dead body at his den chained and killed. Police are everywhere in the Ede community to ensure that he is arrested and brought to justice. Our men are on the ground tackling cultists in that axis. The situation is under control.”
The state government promised to spare no effort in arresting those instigating violence in the state.
The government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, described the development as criminal and intolerant.
