Three killed in Osun cult clash
Three persons died in a suspected cult clash between rival Aiye and Eiye confraternities in Osun, prompting intensified police patrols to prevent reprisal attacks.
Police Command in Osun says three persons died from a suspected cult-related clash in the Imo Area of Osun on Monday. The suspected cult clash happened between members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities at about 8:00 p.m. on Monday. Following the incident, three persons, identified as Idowu, Yinka and Eja, all yet to be properly identified, were reportedly shot dead.
Upon the receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police (Election) in charge of the state governorship election, Samuel Etaifo, directed the deployment of operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the area. Four expended cartridges and two Android mobile phones were recovered from the scene, while preliminary investigations have commenced.
Etaifo has directed the VCRU operatives and other tactical teams to intensify patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations within Ilesa and adjoining areas, particularly around identified flashpoints to forestall any reprisal attack. He warned members of rival cult groups and other criminal elements against taking advantage of the incident to cause further violence.
The cult clash is a grim reminder of the violence that plagues Osun State ahead of the governorship election. The killings will heighten tensions and raise concerns about security during the poll. The police’s swift response is commendable, but the underlying problem of cultism remains unresolved.
This echoes the 2019 cult violence in Osun, which also claimed lives ahead of elections. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a state grappling with cult-related violence.
The winners: the police, who have responded swiftly; and the residents of Osun, who may see increased security. The losers: the families of the victims; and the Nigerian state, which has failed to curb cult violence.
Bottom Line: Three have died in an Osun cult clash. The election is days away. The question is whether the violence will escalate or be contained.