A suspected cult clash that occurred in the Ijeun Titun area of Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State has left one person, identified as Tescom, dead.
nigeriacurrently.com Online gathered that the incident happened around 8 pm on Sunday.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the incident told our correspondent that Tescom was sitting in the front of a car wash in the area when some gun-wielding men attacked and shot at him, leading to his death.
It was learnt that residents of the area are currently in fear of reprisal attacks.
The source said, “We heard that the assailant came on a motorcycle, and they just went after only him and shot him in the head.
“Although those who shot him dead bolted away immediately, people were afraid that the deceased’s group members might come for a reprisal attack.
“The police from Ibara Divisional headquarters came at about 9 pm to evacuate his corpse. It is really disturbing and sad.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident but dismissed the assertion that it was a cult clash.
Odutola said it was a suspected murder case that led to the death of one Olumide Danisa, also known as Tescom.
“It was gathered that the deceased was shot in the head by two gunmen who alighted from an unregistered Toyota Corolla vehicle, ash colour, and released shots while Olumide was sitting outside his house at about 19:55hrs of 31/3/24, and fled the scene.
“The victim was rushed to the State Hospital Ijaiye, where the doctor confirmed him dead. His remains have been evacuated to the hospital morgue for autopsy.
“No arrests have been made, but the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun PSC has been briefed, and he has directed the Area Commander Metro Abeokuta to commence a preliminary investigation,” Odutola stated.
nigeriacurrently.com Online reported in February that one Seun Elewode, a member of the Aye cult group, was killed during a shootout between rival cult groups in the Adeun area of Lafenwa, Abeokuta.
Odutola, who confirmed the incident, added that a suspected member of the Buccaneer Confraternity was also killed in the Akinolugbade area of the town.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed that its operatives arrested 11 suspects over the cult clashes in different parts of Abeokuta, the state capital that claimed four lives in February.
However, no fewer than 48 repentant cultists in the Sagamu area of the state have surrendered their arms to the police and renounced their membership in the various cult groups they belonged to.
The ceremony to profile the repentant cultists and take stock of the arms and ammunition was held at the Palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of the state last Tuesday.
Alamutu had said that the approach of the police to engage in moral persuasion as a way of curbing the incessant cult crises that have ravaged the part of the state led the cultists to renounce their membership and surrender their arms.