A violent clash between rival cult groups in Sagamu, the administrative center of Sagamu Local Government Area in Ogun State, has resulted in the feared death of more than 20 individuals.
Reports indicate that the confrontational groups, allegedly comprising members of the Eiye and Aiye confraternities, reignited their ongoing battle for supremacy on September 16, 2023. Tragically, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 20 people, including secondary school students and innocent bystanders.
Graphic content, shared on social media, depicts the gruesome aftermath of the attacks, with victims lying in pools of their own blood. Shockingly, one victim had their hands severed by their assailants.
Several areas in Sagamu, including Sabo, Makun, GRA, Ijagba, and Ajaka, have become epicenters of this violent conflict, causing residents to live in constant fear as the situation escalates.
Among the victims, an SS3 student met a tragic end at a local barbershop in the Sabo area, while Sunny Pa, an alleged 50-year-old gospel musician, lost his life in the crossfire.
Another victim, Elemere, a popular drummer associated with a well-known local Fuji musician in Sagamu, met a brutal end at a local bar along with two other women on Sunday.
In response to these cult-related killings, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, emphasized that addressing the situation in Sagamu requires more than just deploying an anti-cultism squad. He called on the local elders and politicians to take appropriate actions and noted that the cultists are known to security agents, urging the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to act swiftly.
Adejobi also highlighted the need for the community to get involved in addressing the issue, as cultism seems to have permeated various segments of the town, including okada riders and artisans.
The situation in Sagamu demands a multi-pronged approach to effectively combat this pervasive problem and restore peace to the town.
