Many people have been killed in Sagamu area of Ogun State between Sunday evening and Monday morning following a renewed hostility between two cult groups, Aiye and Eiye, in the town.
Although, the Ogun State Police Command has confirmed eight deaths, news from Sagamu however indicated that over 15 persons have lost their lives to the clash.
In gory videos and photos shared online by residents, some of the victims of the attacks were seen lying in the pool of their blood, with one of their hands cut off by their assailants.
One of the social media users who identified himself as Fatai narrated that about five innocent secondary school students were gunned down in a barbing shop.
“Just yesterday (Sunday) Five (5) innocent secondary school students were gunned down at the barbers shop by the cultists who were targeting the owner of the Shop. This is saddening and heartbreaking. We need a strong policy of action to stop this madness.”
The State Police Commissioner, CP Abiodun Alamutu, during a press briefing attributed the recent killing to a land commission paid to one of the cult groups.
“A land was sold and some form of commission or settlement was paid to a cult group by the owner of the land. A rival cult group got to know about the payment and went after members of the other group in a bid to get a share of the commission.
“The situation degenerated into an attack and counter attack situation which started from Wednesday las week and continued till Sunday, leading to the death of 8 persons,” the Police boss said.
Speaking further, he revealed the arrest of some of the kingpins of the rival cult groups. “About nine suspects have been arrested as we speak with evidences of their involvement in the killings.
“Two guns and some rounds of cartridges with evidences that they were recently fired, were recovered from the suspects,” he added.”
Reacting to the development, the Force Police Public Relations, Olumuyiwa Adejobi has said that almost every young person in Sagamu, is a cultist.
This was contained in an X post shared on Sunday.
“In Sagamu, almost every young person is a cultist. Okada riders, artisans, etc., are into cultism even more than students, and I think the whole town and Remoland, in general, should take action on it,” he wrote.
On why he generalised in his initial tweet, Adejobi said, “I am an authority on Sagamu cases. Ask them if they know me. No one from Sagamu can dispute what I’ve said. So don’t worry about my statement, even the elders and Sagamites know.”
He has however promised to engage CP Alamutu on the situation.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of the State has directed security agencies in the State to rid the town and its environs of the menace of cultists and cult-related activities in the State.
Governor Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, regretted the avoidable loss of innocent lives and wanton destruction of properties by the hoodlums.
According to him, the police and sister security agencies have been given a matching order to deal ruthlessly and decisively with those disturbing the peace of the town.
He said: “As a responsible and responsive government, we are very sad with the resurgence of activities of criminal elements under different outlawed groups, raising unnecessary tension in the sleepy town of Sagamu and it’s environs.
“Let these urchins be rest assured that the State will be too hot for them to operate as we are reevaluating the security architecture for greater surveillance and tactical operation”.
The governor noted that the new security approach would be implemented in collaboration with the traditional institution, community and religious leaders, youth groups as well as other critical stakeholders.
