Imah Ajirioghene
No fewer than two persons have lost their lives in a cult clash involving members of the Aiye and the Eiye confraternities at Ijanikin, in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
NEWSTODAY gathered that members of the cult groups had been engaging in series of clashes over the months, creating tension in the community and have led to the death of an undergraduate of the Lagos State University(LASU), Kamoru Lasisi, and a tiler, Lateef Atanda.
According to a resident in the area who claimed anonymity, the cultists killing one another has become threats to their daily activities of livelihood.
“The cultists’ attacks in my area are a major concern; initially, they usually go after one another, but now, what they do is go after people that are not cultists in the community. The clashes involve members of the Aiye and Eiye cult groups and each of the groups has a territory in the community that they control.
“In Ijanikin, Aiye cultists are in charge of Alasia down to Adio, Ayetoro, and Ketu areas, but Oto, Cele and Ile Oba Bus Stops, and some parts of Adio are controlled by the Eiye cult groups. Two weeks ago, Aiye cultists stormed the Cele Bus Stop area and shot a 400-level undergraduate of LASU, Kamoru Lasisi. He was shot dead in front of his father’s house despite not being a cultist.
“About two months ago, around 7.50pm, Aiye cultists came to the territory of Eiye cultists to attack a rival and did not meet their target. What they did next was to attack and kill an innocent boy, Lateef Atanda, who just finished writing his WAEC and does tiling business.
“The boy was shot dead on Ago-Idosa Street, Vespa Bus Stop, in the presence of his father, who was pleading with the cultists not to kill him. He was not a cultist and people in the area testified to it. There is always a reprisal for these attacks and it causes unconfirmed killings in the community.” the source said
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Commissioner of Police in the State has deployed tactical unit out of the state command and are stationed at different parts of the state including Badagry which covers Ijankin and is working effortlessly to ensure that such mayhem in the society is curbed
“We are aware that cultism is on the high side in Ijanikin but in the coming days or weeks, there should be a sharp decline in the activities of cultists in that area.
“Our investigations are not only focused on identifying other members of these networks but to also get to the root of the fabricators of these dangerous weapons,” he said.
