Cult Clash: Ondo Gov Aiyedatiwa Takes Major Action as Mother, Baby, Ex-Youth Leader, Others Killed

• The Ondo state deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has condemned the cult-related killings in Owo
• Four people, including a mother and her baby, were killed during a violent clash between rival cult groups
• Aiyedatiwa called for community cooperation with security agencies to combat insecurity, emphasising shared responsibility

Ondo deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reacted to the gruesome killings occasioned by cult activities in the state.

Specifically, the governor condemned the violence and announced immediate steps to address the situation.

Legit.ng reported that tragedy struck in Owo, Ondo state, on Monday, January 6, as a violent clash between rival cult groups led to the death of four people, including a mother and her baby who were reportedly struck by stray bullets.

The other victims included a former youth leader and another unidentified individual, raising concerns over the growing insecurity in the area.

Read also

Ibadan stampede: Queen Naomi, others, to be prosecuted by Oyo state governor "Justice must be served"

Aiyedatiwa ordered an intensified crackdown on cult activities across the state and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice, as reported by The Punch.

Aiyedatiwa declared in a statement:

“This senseless loss of lives, including a mother and her innocent baby, is unacceptable. We will not tolerate criminality in any form, and the full weight of the law will be brought down on those responsible.”

Aiyedatiwa seeks community cooperation

Aiyedatiwa also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information about suspicious activities.

“The safety of our communities is a shared responsibility. We call on everyone to support the government’s efforts to eradicate this menace," he said.

Eyewitness speaks on clash between cult groups

According to an eyewitness who requested anonymity, the clash erupted in the early hours of the day, with gunshots echoing through parts of the town for several hours.

Read also

Tragedy as gunmen kill 3 sons of Anambra native doctor, police react

“We thank God that students are not around. There were sporadic gunshots, and afterward, we heard that some people had been killed," the eyewitness said.

The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre in Owo.

Police speak on tragic incident in Ondo state

The Ondo state police command confirmed the incident, with the Police spokesperson, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlam, stating that officers had been deployed to restore peace in the community, Vanguard reported.

Odunlam said:

“Four people have been confirmed dead, but normalcy has returned through the intervention of the police. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of this act.”

While the government’s response has been swift, residents of Owo are calling for more sustainable measures to address the root causes of cult-related violence in the area.

Many believe that unemployment and a lack of education are fueling these deadly clashes.

Read also

Nigerians react as man accused of witchcraft is burnt to death in Ebonyi

SSG loses children to fire incident

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Sokoto's State Secretary to the Government, Alhaji Muhammadu Bello Sifawa, lost a daughter and three of her children as a result of a fire incident in the early hours of Monday, January 6.

The deceased was the wife of the permanent secretary of the state's ministry of sports and youth development, Alhaji Muhammadu Yusuf Bello.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng