Police Command in Osun State says three persons died from suspected cult related clash in the Imo Area of Osun on Monday.
This is contained in a statement by the command Spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on Tuesday.
Ojelabi said the suspected cult clash happened between members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities, about 8 p.m. on Monday.
“Following the incident, three persons, identified as Idowu, Yinka and Eja, all yet to be properly identified were reportedly shot dead,” he said.
He said upon the receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police (Election) in charge of the state governorship election, Samuel Etaifo, directed the deployment of operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the area.
He said four expended cartridges and two Android mobile phones were recovered from the scene, while preliminary investigations have commenced.
He also said that the command was working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify all persons connected with the clash.
“Etaifo has directed the VCRU operatives and other tactical teams to intensify patrols, surveillance and intelligence-led operations within Ilesa and adjoining areas.
“The patrol is particularly around identified flashpoints to forestall any reprisal attack,” he said.
He warned members of rival cult groups and other criminal elements against taking advantage of the incident to cause further violence.
He added that any person found engaging in cult-related violence, reprisal attacks, unlawful possession of firearms or other criminal activities would be arrested and made to face the full weight of the law.
