4 people killed in Ondo cult clash

Pandemonium broke out on Monday in Owo town, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of ​​Ondo State, following a shooting by suspected members of two rival cult gangs that left about four people dead in the ancient town.

Our correspondent learned that commercial activities were grounded as shops were hurriedly closed for fear of retaliatory attacks by cultists following the killings.

The source, who did not want to be named, suggested the violence could be linked to a feud spanning more than a decade in which several residents lost their lives in gang clashes.

According to sources, the incident took place on Sunday and continued until the early morning hours of Monday.

According to him, on Sunday, January 5, unknown perpetrators shot a 52-year-old man, Fisayo Oladipupo.

LEADERSHIP learned that the incident began around 2am on Monday when the attackers barged into the house of the deceased in Owa to commit the nefarious act.

It was also gathered that Fisayo Oladipo, popularly called in his lifetime (Fissey Ehin Ogbe), was a former youth leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a prominent member of the party in the local government.

In addition to Oladipupo, LEADERSHIP participants determined that a mother and her child, who were passers-by, were also killed in the retaliatory attack by stray bullets.

He further stated: “The man killed on Sunday knew his attacker and that could have led to his death,” the source said. Fifteen years ago, the house of the alleged attacker’s father was set on fire by local youth. In retaliation, on Monday, January 6, the house of the victim’s father was set on fire.”

A viral video obtained by LEADERSHIP shows a yet unidentified man lying lifeless in the road as residents fled to safety.

Police spokesperson Funmi Odunlami-Omisanya confirmed the incident and suggested that normalcy had returned to the city.

Odunlami-Omisanya said: “We cannot confirm whether an APC commander is involved but four people have been confirmed dead; Thanks to the police intervention, normality has returned and actions are underway to arrest the perpetrators of the act.”

Meanwhile, the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa has declared a dawn to dusk curfew in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area, following the escalation of violent cult clashes in the city.

Pandemonium broke out on Monday following a shootout between suspected members of two rival cult gangs that left around four people dead in the ancient city.

Sources said the violence began on Sunday and continued into the early morning hours of Monday. On January 5, unknown gunmen shot and killed 52-year-old man Fisayo Oladipupo, a former youth leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a prominent member of the party in the local government.

Apart from Oladipupo, three other people, including a mother and her child who were innocent bystanders, lost their lives to a stray bullet during the reprisal attack.

In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Governor Aiyedatiwa ordered all Owo residents to stay at home during the curfew hours.

He stated: “Following the ongoing violent inter-sect clashes and security disturbances in Owo that have resulted in loss of life, the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has ordered a dawn-to-dusk curfew in the city until further notice.

“All residents are required to stay at home during the curfew. Only essential services such as hospitals, emergency services and law enforcement will be exempt.

“The Governor also directed security agencies in the state to enforce the curfew, ensure security of lives and properties, apprehend perpetrators of violence and restore peace in the community.