Policeman, five others killed as OPC, cult group clash

Omobolaji Adekunle

A Police Inspector and five others have been reportedly killed after a clash between some members of the Oodua People’s Congress and a cult group in the Ijebu Igbo area of Ogun State.

Several people were equally reported to have been injured in the fracas, while it was learnt that the clash occurred during a “Thank You Tour” of  Ijebu North local government area by the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial district, Buruji Kashamu.

The deadly clash reportedly spilled over to Monday, when two policemen were shot, leaving one dead and the other seriously injured.  

It was also learnt that the fight, which claimed the lives of four unidentified cultists and one OPC member, threw Ijebu Igbo into panic.

The Police in Ogun state confirmed the clash, but said only three people died.

Spokesman of the state Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi who confirmed the incident said the policemen were in the town to maintain law and order after the clash before their patrol vehicle was ambushed and attacked.

Oyeyemi said during the attack a Police Inspector was shot dead while another one was injured.

He also confirmed that two people who were members of the two groups lost their lives during the clash.

He said “Some members of the OPC and Aiye cult clashed on Sunday. One OPC member was shot dead and one member of the Aiye cult was also killed.

“This morning (Monday), while our men were on routine patrol, they were ambushed by suspected hoodlums. They shot dead one Police Inspector and another one was seriously injured. The injured Policeman is currently recuperating in a hospital.”

The Spokesman said the command had deployed operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Police Mobile Force and Anti-Cultism unit to the troubled area.

He added that 29 suspects had been arrested, while a pump-action gun and a shotgun were recovered.

He said “Normalcy has returned to the town. We will go after the hoodlums wherever they hide, they will not go unpunished. We are still combing the town to ensure we arrest all those involved in the clash.”