A clash, which reportedly ensued on Sunday between two fraternities, the ‘Eye’ and ‘Aiye’ in Ajosegbemi, in Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State leaving three people dead, has affected the peace in the community as most residents are allegedly in intense fear leading to their staying indoors from 9 pm, The Punch reports.

It was learnt that the deceased persons were battered to death on Awoseyin, Odunlade and Agunbiade streets inward Onipanu bus stop when members of Aiye fraternity had gone on a rampage to avenge the death of a member’s brother, one Azeez Akinwumi, a tennis player, who was killed by some Eye cult members.

A resident, who identified himself simply as Dipo, said he saw two lifeless bodies in a pool of blood on his way home from Onipanu.

“I was at Onipanu with a friend when I observed there was confusion on Agunbiade Street. I took an alternative route to Anifowoshe Street where I live. On my way home, I noticed that everywhere was deserted. There was a corpse on Awoseyin Street and I saw another one just before Odunlade Street. I learnt that it was a clash between Eye and Aiye cult members.

“According to what we heard, it was the death of Azeez who was a brother of an Aiye member that caused the confusion. We have been living in fear and we can’t stay outside beyond 9 pm again,” Dipo added.

One Afolabi Peju, a resident of Agunbiade Street, said, “I was attending to a customer around 1.30 pm on that day when I saw some youths chasing a guy. I rushed into my shop and locked myself in. They eventually caught the guy and slit his throat. It was policemen that later came to pick his corpse. I learnt the guy was not a resident.”

Peju also noted that it took a combined team of policemen from Alade, Pedro and Onipanu divisions to stop the violence.
Reports further revealed that some traders in the community lost their goods while running for safety.

Speaking on the incident, the Chairman, Ajosegbemi Community Development Association, Mr. Tunji Awokoya, said some of the miscreants worked for politicians and that people were afraid to identify them for fear of being hunted.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, confirmed the attack. While affirming that several others were injured, he disclosed that the fight was between Eye and Aiye groups.

“Deaths were recorded but we cannot ascertain the number for now.
“People that were injured have been taken to hospitals and some arrests have been made.

“However, investigation is in progress,” Offor noted.

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