The city of Ilesa, Osun State, has been engulfed in fear and turmoil due to ongoing cult clashes, claiming the lives of at least ten individuals between June and the second week of September 2023.
The conflict primarily involves members of the notorious Eiye and Afe confraternities, who have been instilling terror not only in Ilesa but also in various parts of Ijesa land for over a year, causing harm to innocent civilians.
In a recent outbreak of violence, four more lives were tragically lost between Sunday and Wednesday within Ilesa during a renewed clash between these two rival cult groups.
On Sunday evening, two suspected members of the Afe confraternity, known as Machine and Skay, met a horrifying end when they were gunned down in front of a local beer parlour in the Imo area. Eyewitnesses reported that their lifeless bodies were discovered after a fierce exchange of gunfire in the vicinity.
In a seemingly retaliatory attack, two suspected members of the Eiye confraternity were also brutally killed in the Sabo area, along the Ilesa/Akure express road. The victims, identified as 28-year-old Lekan and Sunday, aged 25, were ambushed by their assailants, who forced them to exit their vehicle. Tragically, the suspected cultists then shot them in the head, as confirmed by an eyewitness account.
The relentless spate of cult violence has dealt a severe blow to the city’s commercial activities, as shop owners, traders, and even commercial motorcyclists have been forced to retreat to their homes by 6 pm to evade becoming casualties in the crossfire.
The community and authorities in Osun State are now faced with the urgent challenge of quelling this wave of violence and restoring peace to Ilesa, as residents live in constant fear of these ruthless cult clashes.
In the wake this relentless and brutal attacks by cultists, concerned stakeholders within the city of Ilesa have voiced their growing apprehension, labeling it as an escalating menace that necessitates a comprehensive solution.
These concerned stakeholders have highlighted the alarming impact of the cultists’ violent activities on the town’s economy, which has now reached a critical point. They emphasized that the pervasive fear and insecurity have taken a toll on the daily lives of traders, businesspeople, and women in the community.
Don’t miss out on: Somalia Issues Directive to Close TikTok and Telegram
The stakeholders assert that urgent and holistic measures are imperative to address this crisis effectively. They have called on local authorities, law enforcement agencies, and the state government to join forces and tackle the issue head-on.
HIGHLIGHT: Governor Authorizes Special Operations by Security Agencies to Uncover Perpetrators of Violence
In the meantime, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state has instructed law enforcement agencies to initiate targeted operations aimed at apprehending and bringing to justice rival cult members involved in conflicts within Ijeshaland.
Reacting to spate of violence and attacks in parts of the Eastern senatorial district, Governor Adeleke described the development as “shocking and reprehensible”, calling on the police service and other security agencies to act decisively to stop the cult clashes.
This was contained in a news release signed by the Spokesperson to the State Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.
Expressing sorrow over the tragic loss of innocent lives among the local residents, the Governor emphasized that the special operations must encompass intelligence gathering efforts to apprehend the architects behind these attacks. He cautioned that all those responsible for these actions would be held accountable under the full force of the law.
“I have been duly briefed on the developments in some parts of Ijeshaland. We will no longer tolerate actions capable of disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the state. We will not allow any group or individuals to use their internal wars to endanger public peace.
” This is a matter that threatens law and order. We must enforce the law and ensure peace without delay. This is one violence too many.
”I have directed the Commissioner of Police and other service chiefs to swing into action without delay. Violence and attacks must stop and perpetrators must be brought to book as urgently as possible”, the Governor instructed.
Subsequent to the Governor’s directive, the Osun State Police Command has taken into custody several individuals believed to be linked to the recent clashes between rival cults in Ilesa town.
Yemisi Opalola, the spokesperson for the Osun Police Command, verified the arrests. She further mentioned that law enforcement personnel are actively pursuing additional suspects involved in the criminal activities.
“We are still on the trail of some of the perpetrators. They are fleeing but we are still on their trail. Normalcy has returned to the town.
“We have made some arrests in connection with the incident, but I don’t have the number of those arrested presently,” she said.
For Publication of Press Releases, Statements and Adverts Enquiries
CONTACT:
E-mail: topsocietyonline@gmail.com
topsocietynews@yahoo.com
WhatsApp: +44 7823 609683
+234 (0) 816 669 1570
Tel:/WhatsApp: +234 (0) 909 066 4971
Follow us on all our society media handles
Twitter: @topsocietylive
Facebook: @topsocietylive
Instagram: @topsoceitylive
YouTube: @topsocietylive
TOP SOCIETY …we got the news