Osun – Ten persons lost their lives during a bloody clash between rival cult groups in Ilesa, Osun State, on Monday evening.
The clash was said to be a reprisal to avenge the killing of a man in Atakumosa East Local Government on Saturday, February 19.
The killing of the man was to have caused serious tension in the town.
The clash was said to have spread across Ifofin, Idasa, Irojo and brewery areas in the town.
Residents of Ilesa were said to have been caught unaware by the sporadic shooting of guns by members of the rival groups.
The spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident.
She said information available to the command revealed that five persons were killed during the clash.
A security source , however, said that , eight persons were killed in the clash.
According to a eye witness account ten persons were killed.
“The security may not get an accurate figure. They may also not want to disclose the number of victims,” the source said.
However, the state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, said the security is on top of the situation.
“More policemen have been deployed to the town,” he said.(vitalnews)