Cult clash claims 16 in Kwara

It was a weekend of violence in parts of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

At the last count, about 16 people were feared to have been killed in a renewed clash between cult groups.

Areas mostly affected were Agbooba, Baboko, Saboline, Irewolede and Niger Road.

Already, the police said they had arrested more than 30 people suspected to be involved in the clash.

The clash, according to sources, started from a disagreement over positions in an election for the Student Union executive members at the Kwara State Polytechnic.

Authorities of the polytechnic have closed the institution indefinitely.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the arrest of the suspects to journalists in Ilorin.

Okasanmi said 14 people among them had so far been found culpable after screening and would be charged to court this week, while investigations still continued on the development.

Sources at KWARAPOLY disclosed that one of the victims was shot dead during screening of aspirants for the Students Union Government’s election at the weekend, while another victim was reportedly killed at Asa Dam Road area by suspected members of Eiye Confraternity.

It was the latter’s death that reportedly led to the renewed clash among those suspected to be members of Eiye and Aiye confraternities.

The deadly clash later spread to other parts of the metropolis such as Agbooba, Baboko, Saboline, Irewolede and Niger Road.

A Niger Road resident, who pleaded anonymity, said it all started around 4pm.

He said: “A victim who lived at Agbooba was killed beside a bridge close to the filling station at Oja Tuntun area of Ilorin.

“Another body was found at Victory Hotel, Agbooba on Sunday. One suspected cultist was murdered at Irewolede yesterday (Sunday). The deceased was chased to the area and in the process was attacked with machetes by his assailants.”