3 people were killed during a clash between hoodlums reportedly loyal to 2 rival monarchs in the Ijoko, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The two monarchs, Oba Abdulfatahi Matanmi and Oba Lasisi Ogunseye, had been at loggerheads for years over who had sovereignty over the community, with both sides attacking each other.
It was learnt that the community was thrown into turmoil around 3pm on Wednesday by the thugs, who reportedly wielded guns, cutlasses among other weapons.
Policemen from Sango-Ota Police Division were said to have intervened and restored peace in the area.
It was learnt that 2 tricyclists were injured in the fracas which lasted for about two hours.
One of them, Tajudeen Adeleye, who was admitted in a hospital in the community, said he had taken some passengers to the Railway area ─ the scene of the clash ─ around 6pm when he was attacked.
He said:
“I shuttle between Abule and Ijoko-Ogba Ayo. I decided to go on a last trip around 6pm. I was trying to park at our bus stop in Railway bus stop when I was attacked.”
When Punch correspondent visited the community on Thursday, they observed that residents were still living in fear, as most of them declined to comment on the mayhem.
Armed policemen were also seen patrolling the neigbourhood.
An eyewitness, who identified himself only as Rasaq, said the clash was fuelled by supremacy claim as the thugs belonged to rival cult groups.
He said:
“The rate at which Matanmi and Ayatu’s (Ogunseye’s) boys attack one another is very disturbing. On Monday, I saw them hanging around and I sensed that they wanted to cause trouble again. They started around 3pm and three persons were killed, but I don’t know their identities.”
Another eyewitness, Segun Ogunleke, said he saw 2 lifeless bodies on the ground while he was running to safety.
“There was confusion everywhere because of gunshots. I saw two corpses on the ground. They were taken away by the police,” he said.
When contacted, the monarch, Matanmi, directed inquiries and questions to the other Monarch, saying he had nothing to say about the killings.
He told Punch correspondent:
“Go and meet Ogunseye and his son who are attacking and killing people at Ijoko. I have nothing to say.”
Oba Ogunseye’s son, Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of his father, said the attack was between Eiye and Aiye confraternities, adding that it had nothing to do with the kingship tussle.
“For about 3 months now, the battle between two cult groups has been on. They have been killing one another and that was what happened yesterday (Wednesday) too. It was not an attack between us and Matanmi,” he said.The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the clash.
He said:
“There was a clash between two groups, but we cannot link it to kingship rivalry. Policemen have been deployed in the area and investigation has commenced on the attack. One person was hacked to death and his corpse has been deposited in a mortuary.”
