SOUTH WEST INSECURITY: 11 feared dead in Ibadan cultists, OPC clash
*we have restored law and order – Police
Tension is reportedly mounting in Oopo, Oniyanrin/ Abebi/ Inalende areas of Ibadan following a bloody clash between suspected cultists and members of the Odua People’s Congress (OPC).
The DEFENDER gathered that in the prolonged bloody clash, 11 persons comprising of seven members of the cult group and four OPC members were feared dead.
Sources said the leader of the OPC in the area , identified as Kazeem was killed during the Thursday night clash, and was buried early Friday by his family.
According to sources in the area, the bloody clash had created tension among residents in the area, which shops in the area remained shot with some of the residents already fleeing their homes for fears of possible reprisal attack.
It was gathered that in all, four OPC members including Kazeem and seven suspected cultists met their untimely death in the clash which lasted till Friday morning.
Our Correspondent learnt from residents at Oopo, Oniyanrin, Abebi and Inalende areas of Ibadan that clash started on Thursday when some youths from Inalende area killed two persons identified as “Transformer and Ishaja “.
Sources said upon the tensed situation, OPC members in the area confronted the suspected cultists resulting in the escalation of the clash which lasted till the early hours of Friday amidst sporadic shootings while they were searching for one another in and across the areas.
The warning groups were reported to be breaking into one house after the other during the clash with some of the residents in the area fleeing their homes for safety.
When contacted, the Oyo state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Adewale Osifeso confirmed the clash and that men of the command are now in the area with other security agencies to maintain law and order
“The story is true. Investigations are ongoing to establish the number of casualties and circumstances that led to the incident”, he said.
DSP Osifeso added, “meanwhile, additional operatives have been deployed to the scene to maintain law and order. You would be updated in due course, please”.
