Five killed as OPC, suspected cult group clash in Ogun

Five persons have been confirmed killed, following a clash between members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), and a cult group in Ijebu-Igbo.

Eight vehicles were also destroyed in the violence, which started yesterday at noon. A policeman was also said to have died.

An eyewitness told The Guardian that the fight was over an unspecific amount of money given to them by a Senator, who was said to have held a rally in the area.

The clash, which started at Oke Sope area, later spread to other parts of the city

According to the source, trouble began when one of the two groups insisted that they must have the bigger share of the largesse.

The argument later resulted into physical combat, followed by use of arms.

Among the dead were two members of the cult group, suspected to be Aiye, and one OPC member.

He disclosed that the fight continued until policemen were drafted to restore peace, adding that: “In the process, an OPC member was shot dead,” the source revealed.

The Guardian learnt that when the situation got worse yesterday, the State Police Command had to deploy another team to support the men on ground. 

The situation forced residents of the area to stay indoors.

The spokesman of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the clash and deaths.

According to him: “The Area Commander of Ijebu Igbo was directed by the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, to mobilise to bring the situation under control.

Oyeyemi explained that its team was on a routine patrol in the area, when the suspected cult members, ambushed and killed one of the policemen, while another sustained gunshot injury.

He revealed that the police have made some arrests.

Meanwhile, gunmen have killed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Rumuolumeni, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Kingsley Chukwuegu.

The DPO, a Superintendent of Police, was killed around Awaza community in Abia State, on his way to Port Harcourt. 

The Guardian leant that Chukwuegu was killed alone, in the midst of three persons inside a private vehicle, who were unhurt by the suspected assassins. 

The state Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, led some senior police officers to visit the division to commiserate with the personnel. 

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident, said the command was working with the Abia State command to unravel the circumstances behind the killing.