16 feared dead as cultists go berserk in Ilorin

*Agbo-Oba, Baboko, Asa Dam turn battle grounds

*Police arrested over 28 suspects---Source

About 16 people including a Civil Defence Officer were reportedly killed over the weekend in a renewed cultist clash in Ilorin metropolis.

Though the remote cause of the fracas could not be ascertained at the time of filling this report, it was gathered that suspected cultists struck at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, last week Thursday and reportedly killed a suspected member of ‘Eiye’ Confraternity simply identified as Paparazi.

Pararazi, who was said to have finished his National Diploma from the institution in 2012 was reportedly gunned down in the school premises during screening of aspirants for the Students Union Government elections.

A suspected member of Aiye Confraternity also identified as Parjay was reportedly killed same night at Asa Dam Road by suspected members of Eiye Confraternity.

It was learnt that Parjay was allegedly lured by yet-to –be identified men on the guise that one of his friends used his name at a cool spot close to his abode to foment violence.

An eyewitness account claimed that late Parjay was shot at a close range and reportedly died on the spot.

His death, a source hinted, led to a renewed clash among members of both Aiye and Eiye Confraternities, which spread to other parts of the metropolis on Friday.

The areas affected are, Agbooba, Baboko, Saboline, Asa Dam, Irewolede, Niger Road.

Some of the victims were Oladimeji Didon; Waheed Wadofo; Salmon Xman ;Tope Orlando (Civil Defence officer). They were reportedly killed Friday night at Baboko and Agbooba areas respectively.

Another suspected cultist identified as Sinkin was reportedly killed at Saboline area on Saturday night while both Karube and Apapa were killed on Sunday morning.

The duo was said to have been murdered on their way from Church.

A Baboko Resident who pleaded anonymity said: “It all started around 4pm on Friday, a resident of Agbooba who is popularly known as Tunde Jacusi was killed beside a bridge close to the filling station at Oja Tuntun area of Ilorin”.

Another dead body was reportedly found at Victory Hotel, Agbooba on Saturday. He was identified as David.

Also, another suspected cultist was murdered at Irewolede area yesterday. The deceased, according to an eyewitness account, was chased to the area and in the process gunned down by his assailants.

National Pilot gathered that his corpse was evacuated by men of the Nigeria Police Force ‘B’ Division and was deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.

This paper also learnt yesterday that a member of Eiye Confraternity, simply identified as Karatu, who was reportedly attacked by members of a rival group, was recuperating at an undisclosed hospital within Ilorin metropolis.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 28 suspected cultists have been allegedly arrested in connection to the unrest in Ilorin.

A police source, who disclosed this to one of our reporters last night, clarified that those arrested would be screened, adding that innocents among them would be released, while those found guilt would be prosecuted.

#crime