Osun Community Raises Alarm Over Incessant Cult Clashes

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

On Saturday, March 27, more than 4,000 members of Kolawole Arikalamu community in Osogbo, Osun State capital were thrown into chaos following attacks and counter attacks by members of various cult groups in the area .

However, on Tuesday, March 30, suspected cult group armed with machetes and gun invaded Atelewo area, Kolawole street in Osogbo, the incident which sent the people scampering.

Prior to the last incident, the community members said there had been series of cult wars, which had left the once peaceful and serene town of Osogbo a shadow of itself.

The residents have, however, urged Governor Gboyega Oyetola, the Commissioner of Police, Wale Olokode, Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Timothy Owoeye and key security agencies to come to their aid to stop further damages.

They also said the rate at which gang and cult war was ravaging most settlements in the state capital required that the state government and police took decisive steps.

Narrating their ordeal to CityMirrorNews, Mr Jacob Folorunsho and Madam Folashade Idowu, a market woman in the area said: “Last week, some groups of armed cultists invaded our Community and started shooting sporadically and immediately they saw that people ran for cover and left their shops, the cultists started robbing and carted away valuables.

In the course of operating they also chased two of the young men in our community to the to another area where they were eventually killed.”

Also speaking, a source at Atelewo area said on Tuesday March 30, around 9am, in their numbers, attacked some residents and destroyed people’s property.

An eyewitness told CityMirrorNews that the suspected cultists came to the area searching for someone called Brown.

“They were looking for a guy. They were shouting ‘Brown’s’ name who is a cult member.”

One of the victims narrated that the miscreants beat him with machete and also carted away N30,000 after destroying the victim’s property.

Recall that CityMirrorNews had reported that cult violence erupted on Saturday morning, claiming the lives of two people.

A 35-year-old man, Akinwale Rotimi, on Saturday, was shot dead at the Kolawole, Arikalamu area of Osogbo.

Consequently, Sogo Owonikoko, 44, also known as Marley and who is suspected to be a member of the Eiye confraternity was hacked down at Alie street, Obate area of Osogbo.

According to the information gathered, the cult clash between the Eiye and Aiye confraternity started about a month ago and has claimed many lives.