Residents Scamper For Safety As Cultists Kill One In Ile-Ife

Residents of the Ondo road area of Ile-Ife, Osun State, ran for their lives as some cultists attacked a yet-to-be-identified person around 6 pm last Saturday.

According to eyewitnesses, the cultists who rode on motorcycles shot sporadically as they pinned down their target who was purchasing some items in the area. 

The eyewitnesses told OSUN DEFENDER that the victim was shot in the head and died immediately.

The sporadic gunshots created tension in the area, making residents scamper for safety.

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It was gathered that there had been clashes between Eiye and Alora confraternities in Ile-Ife recently. 

A source told the medium that the Saturday killing was a continuation of the clash.

The source said, “One person was killed along the Ondo road on Saturday by some armed men suspected to be cultists. There are reports that the victim was also a cult member. He was buying something when he was pinned down and shot. He died on the spot.

“There were tensions in the area with many people fleeing because they feared there might be a reprisal attack. It was the police that came to calm the situation.”

“These cult groups have been having issues among themselves in the area.”

The Spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident to OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone conversation on Wednesday.

Opalola stressed that investigation has commenced into the incident while a manhunt has been initiated to arrest the fleeing suspects.

She said: “There was a suspected cult clash along Ondo road. The victim was buying something along the road when he was attacked by some men who came on a motorcycle. They shot him on the head which led to his death.

“His body has been recovered to a morgue in the state, and we have begun an investigation into the matter to arrest the perpetrators.”