Cult clash persists in Ogun, as 24 killed in six months

No fewer than 24 people, including a traditional chief, have been killed in cult-related violence that took place in Ogun State between January and June this year.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that the cult clashes were largely between members of Aiye and Eiye confraternities, while Alora/Buccaneer members were also involved in a few of the attacks.

A recent document obtained by our correspondent showed that cult clashes leading to death of students in Abeokuta and its environs have continued to remain on the rise.

The first casualty of the cult killings this year was the Bashorun Akarigbo, Sagamu, Chief Abiodun Folarin, who was killed on Monday, January 8.

Folarin was killed in his Itunsokun, Sagamu residence around 10:45pm by the cultists who were said to be uncomfortable with his war against their activities.

On Friday, February 1, a notorious cultist known as Oloba was killed while another person, Tayo Alora, was murdered on February 4 in an attack and reprisal between Aiye, Eiye and Buccaneer confraternities.

The attacks and reprisal took place at the Ijeja, Adehun and Akinolugbade areas of Abeokuta.

According to reports, the cult clashes continued on February 7 where three people who were said to be members of Eiye confraternity were killed.

“One of the cultists was killed at Randa, Idi Iya, the second was killed at Sodeke, while the third was murdered at Oke Ijeun, all in Abeokuta,” said a source privy to the cult clashes in the areas.

Members of the three cult groups renewed their war on February 20, resulting in the killing of one Tobi.

However, the cultists ceased fire between February 21 and March 17, as the state recorded no violent clash among them.

But violence returned to the state on March 18, following the killing of Sanni Ibrahim and Azeez Bada who were said to be involved in a clash between Eiye and Aiye cult groups at Igbesa, Agbara area of Ogun State.

Abeokuta recorded another cult-related violence on Sunday, March 31, leading to the killing of one Olumide Ifeoluwa, popularly known as Tescom, at the Ijeun Tuntun area of the state capital.

According to an X, formerly Twitter, account, “Naija Confra” which tracks the activities of cultists in Nigeria, an unidentified person was killed by the cultists on April 2, 2024, at the Oluwo Adigbe area of Abeokuta.

On April 21, one Azeez Olaitan, a suspected member of Aiye confraternity was also killed in Alogi, Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State in a faceoff between his group and Eiye confraternity.

The Ogun State House of Assembly had during its plenary on May 2, 2024, reported that no fewer than 10 individuals lost their lives to cult-related violence within 42 days in Abeokuta.

Barely a week after the Assembly’s outcry, our correspondent gathered that the cultists engaged in free-for-all, leading to the death of one of them at the Atan-Lusada area of the state on May 8.

It was also learned that there was a reprisal of the Atan-Lusada killing between Aiye and Eiye cultists, which resulted in the death of another person on May 10, at Igbesa.

This was just as one person was reportedly killed at the Lantoro area of Abeokuta in another clash between the ravaging rival cult groups.

The cultists also struck again on May 14, killing one Segun popularly known as “Ojo Ibo” at Bode Olude, Abeokuta, according to sources. Segun’s right wrist was reportedly chopped off after being killed in the clash.

A notorious cultist who went by the name ‘Warlord’ was shot during the matriculation ceremony at DS Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, on May 18. He later died at a hospital where he was taken for treatment the same day.

According to Naija Confra, a clash between members of Aiye and Eiye cult groups at Ijoko led to the killing of a person whose name was not known on May 23, 2024.

It was also gathered that the rival cult groups attacked each other on May 25 at Fajol, Obantoko, Abeokuta. One person was reportedly killed in the clash.

There was no reported case of cult-related violence in any part of Ogun State in June

However, a final year student of History and Diplomatic Studies at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Ayinla Fabiyi, was killed on Wednesday, July 3 by some suspected cultists.

Fabiyi’s death makes the number of reported casualties in cult-related violence in Ogun State the 25th between January 8 and July 3, 2024.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that many times the Aiye cult group go to the campus environment to force some students to join or face the wrath of rejecting the offer.

Recall an undergraduate student at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, AbdulQuadri Olamilekan Tijani, who recently raised the alarm over an alleged threat to his life by some suspected cult group.

Tijani in a petition written to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, and obtained by journalists, alleged that he has been harassed and threatened by a group of students whom he believes to be Aiye fraternity members, demanding that he join their cult.

The 16-year-old undergraduate lamented that the suspected cult members have been harassing him both on and off campus.

He added that he has received threatening phone calls and text messages, and has seen people who he believes to be cult members lurking around his dormitory.

The student, who has since fled into hiding out of concern for his safety, recounted how the cult members first approached him about joining them sometime last year.

He stated that he was pressured and threatened to consider joining the cult group, but ultimately decided against it.

Since then, he lamented that the cult members have become increasingly aggressive in their attempts to force him to join.

One of the reasons cited by Tijani for fleeing Abeokuta was the brutal killing of his friend, Khalid Olanrewaju.

Olanrewaju was reportedly killed in November 2023 by some suspected Eiye confraternity over his persistent refusal to join them.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun Command, Mrs Omolola Odutola, said the police were actively committed to curtailing the violent activities of cultists in the state.

She said, “We have arrested some suspects in relation to the violent activities of the cultists. The suspects will be charged in court after the investigation. We are not resting on our laurels. I want to urge members of the public to provide information and report any suspicious movement to the police.”