By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
Residents of Osogbo Community are now living in fear as the peace in some parts of the ancient town has been shattered for almost three to four nights by an unidentified set of young men who, reports say, were shooting sporadically, wielding machetes and causing mayhem in the affected communities.
Information available to The Conclave said that for three nights running, there had been confirmed reports of sporadic shootings in some selected areas of Osogbo the capital of Osun State.
These shootings, according to investigations, normally occur between the hours of 10 pm and 12 midnight.
Some residents said that they saw some young men shooting sporadically and that the gunshots were as a result of two rival cult groups trying to outdo each other while others alleged that they were members of the State Boys, a group of political thugs which gained notoriety during the administration of Rauf Aregbesola.
Some of the affected areas where the shootings occurred including Oke-Baale, Olaiya, Egbatedo, Gbeemu, Oja-Oba, Atelewo, Idi-Omo, Balogun, Ita Akogun have been described as unsafe for both residents and non-residents.
A resident of one of the affected communities who spoke with our Correspondent, noted that there was urgent need for government to work more on security in the state due to the influx of cultists and political thugs.
He disclosed that they were now everywhere and guns were now used freely in Osogbo and residents of some areas were now becoming scared because people were being killed at will.
He said, “we now advise ourselves within Osogbo not to stay outside till late at night again but to stay safe in our homes as there is now fighting in town.”
He alleged that the thugs were indirectly working for the state government.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), Deputy Superintendent of Corp (DSC), Daniel Adigun confirmed the incidents but explained that their identities could not be ascertained.
According to him, “We don’t know as of now if they are thugs or members of secret cults, but definitely they are hoodlums who are disturbing the peace of the society.
“The violence just started suddenly on Monday and as at yesterday, intelligence report has it that in some parts of Osogbo, they wanted to come out even in the morning.
“The situation is already under control as the state security Joint Task Force (JTF) was able to stem the tide and anybody who wants to foment trouble will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
He stated that the cause of the violence could not be ascertained as it started suddenly on Monday but maintained that a recurrence was out of the question.
While explaining that the state capital had experienced a surge in criminal activities lately, he revealed that criminal elements had infiltrated secondary schools as some students of these schools had been recruited into their ranks.
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