₦airaland Forum

A cult clash in the Shomolu area of
Lagos State has claimed the life of
Isiaka Oyefeso, a trader at the Yaba
market.

Oyefeso was killed at about 9.45pm
on July 30 in front of his Abimbola
Lane, off Okesuna Street, Shomolu
home, while relaxing after his return
from the market.

The deceased and some others in the
neighborhood were attacked by
warring cult groups who reportedly
came from Bariga area to fight their
Shomolu rivals. It was gathered that the cults,
comprising members of Eiye,
overwhelmed the policemen attached
to Alade Police Station as they shot
sporadically at innocent people
without any challenge of any form from policemen.

Oyefeso was hit severally by bullets
and also got machete cuts on different
parts of his body. He was rushed to
nearby Oguntolu General Hospital
where he died. Some others who were
also injured are still being treated at an undisclosed hospital. Neighbours told The Nation that
Oyefeso was a peace-loving man killed
for no reason. Eyewitnesses said the
suspected cultists numbering over
100 wore T-shirts marked ‘Axe’ at the
back. They were allegedly shouting “ … !”

Residents alleged that the attacks have
been frequent in the last two months
and despite the fact that security
operatives are in the know, they have
done nothing to stop them. A resident, who spoke under
anonymity, told The Nation that the
cultists also robbed residents of
valuables during every attack, adding:
“We are no longer safe here. These
hoodlums come here occasionally to steal, rape and kill people at will. We
have reported severally to the police
but they are not helping matters. The
crisis is between Eiye and Aiye group.
We are begging the commissioner of
police to step in and help save the situation before these boys kill every
one of us in this area.

“These criminals have their hideouts in
Idi-Araba, somewhere around
Olorunkemi Street and Ladi-Lak in
Bariga and operatives at Alade Police
Station, Shomolu are aware of this.
Why they have refused to arrest them is what we do not understand. Most
residents now believe that the police
are protecting these criminals and it is
not a good thing for the society.” Efforts to reach the police
spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy
Superintendent (DSP), for comments
yesterday, failed.