At least five residents of Ilesa, Osun State, have been reportedly killed during clashes between two rival cult groups and suspected land grabbers.

The fight started on Friday afternoon after suspected cultists stormed a new building that was being roofed at Omi-Tuntun area of Ilesa and demanded for money from workers at the site.

One witness, Bisi Oyetade, said the cultists, who also operate as land grabbers in the area, were told to stop extorting workers at the site by some other suspected cultists, said to be relations of the house owner.

Mr Oyetade said that in the process, clashes broke out and one of the land grabbers was overpowered, dragged to the bush and hacked to death by the gang protecting the new building.

He said that the hoodlums regrouped at night and avenged the death of their colleague, storming Ijoka area of Ilesa and killing another suspected cultist.

He added that in a bid to maim their opponents, an innocent woman was shot dead by the warring suspected cultists on Friday night.

According to him, the rampaging youths resumed their hostilities on Saturday and ended up killing two innocent residents.

The police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects while some patrol vans of Ijamo and Ayeso Police Divisions in Ilesa were seen patrolling the town in order to restore peace and order.

Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, the state government through the Commissioner for Information and Civil Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, in a statement, she signed and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, on Sunday condemned the incident and vowed to bring the perpetrators to book.

Reiterating that Osun State remains a peaceful state, Egbemode said those found culpable of disrupting the peace of Osun by way of harassing innocent citizens or being in possession of illegal arms will be made to face the consequences of their actions.

She said: “The Government of the State of Osun wishes to inform the public that the disturbance in Ilesa caused by a clash between two rival cult groups and land grabbers (Omo-onile), has been brought under control and security operatives have moved into the communities where the clash had spread to ensure that there is no further break down of law and order.

“Residents of Omi-tuntun, Ijoka, Sabo, Ilerin-Ijesa areas and other affected communities can now go about their lawful activities without fear. Peace has been restored but the communities remain under tight security surveillance till further notice.

“The government is, however, using this opportunity to reiterate that Osun remains a peaceful state, and the government will not fold its hands while a few criminal elements unleash terror on law-abiding citizens going about their normal activities.

“Those found culpable of disrupting the peace of Osun by way of harassing innocent citizens or being in possession of illegal arms will be made to face the consequences of their actions.

“The government is imploring parents and guardians to keep a close watch on their children and wards, so that they are not used to perpetrate criminal activities because when the law catches up with them, and they will face the full weight of the law.

“The government is also imploring residents and citizens to always channel their grievances to the appropriate authorities and resist the temptation of taking law into their own hands.

“Osun is a peaceful state, and the government will not condone attempts to jeopardise that peace.”

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