The Osun State Police Command said on Tuesday that five people were killed in Ilesa town after violent clashes between two rival cult groups.
Yemisi Opalola, the state police spokesperson, told our correspondent that the clashes occurred late on Monday.
However, contrary to police estimate, a security source in Ilesa who preferred anonymity told our correspondent that more than five people were killed.
According to the source, the clashes occurred late Monday in the Ilesa city districts of Osun Ankara, Iloro, and Idasa.
He also stated that the clashes were between a cult called ‘Aye’ and a rival group called ‘Eiye,’ and that at least six of the eight people killed were hit by stray bullets.
“It was the Aye members who attacked the Eiye group from the outskirts of town.” It felt like a retaliation. Six of those killed were hit by stray bullets, according to the source.
Opalola stated that more operatives had been deployed to the affected areas in order to prevent further escalation.
