Six persons have been reportedly killed by suspected cultists in Ilorin, Kwara State; Benin, Edo State; and Abraka, Delta State, between Sunday and Monday.
Ilorin Cult Clash –
Bluebloodz.com gathered that the cult clashes in Ilorin were the aftermath of Sunday’s alleged attack on #EndSARS protesters in Ilorin.
It was gathered that the head of one of the deceased was severed and deposited on the General Post Office flyover bridge in the metropolis, while the second victim was killed at Sabo-Oke area of the town around 12.05pm on Monday.
The beheaded victim was identified as Yusuf, aka Lucifer, and was said to have been involved in Sunday’s attack on the protesters, while the second person, said to be in his early 20s and popularly known as Khalipha, was a resident of the Sabo-Oke area of Ilorin.
It was gathered that members of rival cults met during the #EndSARS protest and renewed their rivalry, despite being cautioned by the protesters not to disrupt their campaign.
Khalipha was allegedly mauled down around 12.05pm on Monday around Maraba/Alalubosa area of Ilorin.
A trader at the Maraba Market stated,
“We started hearing gunshots around 12.05pm in Maraba and we all hurriedly closed our shops and fled. “A few minutes later, we saw some group of boys wielding cutlasses, guns and other weapons leaving Maraba through the Pategi section of the garage and afterwards, we saw the lifeless body of a middle-aged boy with severe cutlass cuts on his head and body.
“The assailants left walking majestically through Maraba Road and towards the Murtala area of the metropolis unchallenged.”
As of the time of filing this report, the victim’s corpse was still lying in a pool of his own blood.
Speaking on the development, the state police command spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the death of only one person and added that the command had commenced investigation into the incident.
Okasanmi also said the police had notified the Commissioner for Health about the evacuation of the corpse from the Post Office area.
He stated,
“We got information this morning (Monday) that the head of one Yusuf, aka Lucifer, was on top of the post office flyover bridge and the deceased was confirmed by neighbours as a cultist.
“It was also alleged that he was killed by suspected cultists. The police are not aware of the death of any other person as regards the protest.”
Benin Cult Clash –
In Benin, another round of violence broke out on Monday between members of the Eiye and Aye confraternities, leading to the death of one person on the Medical Stores Road, off the New Lagos Road.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the groups had a free-for-all.
According to him, the fight led to the killing of one of the members of the groups, whose body was abandoned on the road for hours, while the #EndSARS protest lasted.
“At the moment, all those cult boys, who fired and danced round the streets in anger over the killing of one of their members by a rival group, have left the road following government-imposed curfew,” the source stated.
What caused the fight among the two cults could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report as the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not be reached.
Delta State Cult Clash –
Similarly, three persons, believed to be students of the Delta State University, were reportedly killed as rival cults clashed in the university community of Abraka in the Ethiope-East Local Government Area of the state.
Bluebloodz.com gathered that members of the rival groups, who armed themselves with guns, cutlasses and axes used the weapons freely in the bloody clash on Sunday.
It was learnt that several persons sustained varying degrees of injury during the clash. A community source told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the clash was between the Eiye and Black Axe confraternities.
He said,
“It was a battle for dominance as usual. It is unfortunate that in the 21st century, youths are still engaging in this act instead of venturing into gainful businesses that will improve their socio-economic well-being.
“In the process, three people died and over eight persons were injured. Residents are living in fear as they don’t know what will happen after.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, promised to get back to our correspondent with the details of the incident, but she had yet to do so as of the time of filling this report.
“I will get back to you when I get the details of the incident,” she stated.
But a police source in Abraka confirmed the incident, adding that the police were already on the ground to maintain peace and order in the community.