by Precious Igbonwelundu And Luqmon Olanrewaju,

No fewer than seven persons have been feared killed after suspected cultists clashed with members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) at Ogijo in Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb.

It was gathered that the fight broke out after the cultists, believed to be members of the confraternity allegedly killed an OPC member near the Ogijo Bus Stop.

The Nation gathered that the cultists had on Monday clashed with a rival group, Eiye, leaving about five people dead.

It was learnt that the cult groups were battling for supremacy around 9pm, prompting OPC members to hit the streets, mistaking it for militants’ attack.

It was gathered that sporadic gunshots forced most residents to flee their homes.

Many residents said they returned to their homes yesterday morning only to discover that the crisis continued till about 12pm.

According to a man who identified himself as Mike, five people were killed on Tuesday night in the cult clashes and two others died in the fight between OPC members and the gunmen.

He said: “Everywhere was rowdy and before we knew what was happening, people were running to other parts of Ogijo. The vigilance group members and cultists were shooting and they killed a guy that was going to MRS filling station to buy fuel. The stray bullet hit him and he died. A woman who sells local gin at the garage was also killed.

“The police came on the night when the shootings took place. They also came this morning and shootings continued.”
A resident, Wale, disclosed that most of the people who died were victims of stray bullets.

He accused security agencies of not responding early to save the situation, insisting that only the OPC members braced for the challenge.

“Six people died before dawn. I left home that night. In fact, I couldn’t do all I needed to do. This morning I thought it would have subsided, that was the reason I returned home. But from 9pm on Tuesday till about 12pm yesterday, they were still shooting.

“No security. Where are the police in the state? It has become an everyday thing in this area. I think it is because the area is not developed yet. All shops are locked, no one could open,” he said.

Similarly, a landlady decried the insecurity, adding that the vehicle she boarded to Ogijo could not get to the last bus stop.

She said: “It made a U-turn with the 10 passengers. Ogijo is now a lion’s den. No one dares enter. Government has to look into this matter as quickly as possible. Even if OPC members want to face gunmen, they can’t do it alone. It was when they (OPC) members heard their member was killed that they came out to fight the criminals.

“I built my house in Ogijo but now I hardly stay there. You can imagine moving from a four-bedroom flat to rent a room in another place just for my safety and my children.

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