Clash of Student Cultists Claims 16 in Ilorin

Police arrest 30 Akure ritualist dies in his home

No fewer than 16 students alleged to be cultists in the Kwara State Polytechnic have been feared killed during a renewed clash that ensued between two rival cult groups in the institution.

Already, the police have arrested about 30 people in connection with the dastardly incident.

THISDAY checks revealed that the incident happened over the weekend when suspected members of Aiye and Eiye Confraternities clashed at the polytechnic.

The cause of the clash by the cult groups could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, but the authorities of the polytechnic have closed down the institution indefinitely.

THISDAY gathered that one of the victims was gunned down during the screening of aspirants for the students’ union's election, while suspected members of Eiye confraternity reportedly killed another victim at Asa Dam road.

An eyewitness told journalists yesterday that the death led to a renewed clash between members of Eiye and Aiye confraternities, adding that it later spread to other parts of the metropolis such as Agbooba, Baboko, Saboline, Irewolede and Niger Road.

A Niger Road resident, who pleaded anonymity, said: "It all started around 4 pm at the weekend. A victim who lived at Agbooba was killed beside a bridge close to the filling station at Oja Tinton area of Ilorin.

"Another dead body was found at Victory Hotel, Agbooba on Sunday. One suspected cultist was murdered at Irewolede yesterday. The deceased was chased to the area and in the process was matcheted by his assailants and left to die."

But, in a swift reaction yesterday, the institution's Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Yunus Abdulkadir, said the management of the school had closed down the institution since last week after the students had finished their examinations.

Also, contacted on the development yesterday, the state police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who confirmed the incident, said the command had arrested about 30 people in connection with the incident.

He said that 14 people among the arrested suspects were found culpable after preliminary investigations.

The PPRO, who said investigations was still ongoing on the killings, added that the 14 suspects would be charged to court this week.

In another development, a 36-year-old man identified as Augustine Daniel died mysteriously in Akure last Sunday morning while allegedly trying to perform some rituals.

The incident happened at 11, Igbalaye Street, in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The deceased was found dead in his sitting room with a bottle of Seaman Schnapps, a bottle of Jik bleach, a knife and two dead hens.

The remains of the deceased have since been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital Akure for further examination.

According to reports, the suspected ritualist, who was said to be an auxiliary nurse in an undisclosed hospital, locked himself inside his sitting room during the ritual activity, which eventually led to his death.

A source in the compound revealed that they had been suspecting the activities of the deceased for more than a month.

The source alleged that he had turned the house into a minihospital where he used to carry out abortion for young girls.

She noted that whenever they confronted him on his activities, the deceased always threatened them with charms.

Confirming the incident, the state command's Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wole Ogodo, said the matter had been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for proper investigation.

Ogodo said it was the wife of the alleged ritualist who came to the station to report the incident on that fateful day after she discovered that the living room was locked.

According to him, "One Folake Augustine came to the station to report that at about 8 am that she left for church leaving her husband named Augustine Godwin, 36 years, at home. When she returned at about 3:30pm, she discovered that the living room was locked, when the door was forced open, he was found dead on the chair, naked".