BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Following the killing of five residents in a clash that broke out between two rival cult groups in Ilesa, Osun State, the government has ordered tight security surveillance till further notice in the ancient town.
The inhabitants of the town were last week thrown into pandemonium when rival cultists, who also operate as land grabbers, popularly known as ‘Omo-Onile,’ attacked themselves over money, killed two of them and also killed three innocent citizens during the melee.
The chaos started last Friday around 12 noon after some youths suspected to be cult members stormed a new building that was being roofed at Omi-Tuntun area of Ilesa and demanded money from workers in the site.
It was gathered that the hoodlums were resisted from extorting workers on the site by another gang of suspected cultists said to be relations of the house owner.
A clash broke out and a 28-year-old suspected cultist simply identified as Taina was overpowered, dragged to the bush and hacked to death by the gang that was protecting the new building.
The hoodlums were said to have regrouped later on Friday night and avenged the killing of Tiana. The group, led by one Enuose, stormed the Ijoka area of Ilesa and killed an opponent, one Segun, aged 35.
Credible sources told The Point that, in a bid to maim other opponents, an innocent woman was shot dead by the warring thugs on Friday night. The female victim was on her way to attend a vigil.
The rampaging youths resumed their hostilities on Saturday morning and ended up killing two innocent residents.
Meanwhile, the government has said it would not fold its hands and watch innocent people further visited with terror.
In a statement signed by Funke Egbemode, the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, the government said the situation has been brought under control while security operatives have moved into the communities where the clash had spread to ensure no further breakdown of law and order.
Egbemode said on Sunday that “Residents of Omi-tuntun, Ijoka, Sabo, Ilerin-Ijesa areas and other affected communities can now go about their lawful activities without fear. Peace has been restored but the communities remain under tight security surveillance till further notice.
“The government is, however, using this opportunity to reiterate that Osun remains a peaceful state, and the government will not fold its hands while a few criminal elements unleash terror on law-abiding citizens going about their normal activities.
“Those found culpable of disrupting the peace of Osun by way of harassing innocent citizens or being in possession of illegal arms will be made to face the consequences of their actions.
