By Correspondent in Ilorin
A suspected cultist had died while evading police arrest in Ilorin, Kwara State on Friday, as several others sustained varying degrees of injury when cultists clash in the state capital.
Sources told The Reporters that the dead cultist, identified as Musbau Saheed, plunged to his death when he jumped into the Surulere canal in Ilorin.
The online publication also gathered that inter-community fight had ensued among suspected cultists/hoodlums from Baboko, Oja Tuntun and Surulere communities in the Ilorin metropolis, leading to the cult clash.
It was further gathered that the police from Surulere and other divisions were drafted in to restore normalcy, thereby arresting suspects as some people sustained injury in the process.
The Reporters also gathered that some of the hoodlums mobilized for a reprisal attack with the aim of forcing the release of their arrested colleagues at the Surulere police division, thereby leading to fierce exchange of fire from both sides.
Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the Police Command in the state,SP Okasanmi Ajayi, said that the command responded to the development by sending some of its men to put a chaotic situation involving two cult groups under control on Friday morning, adding that in the process,some arrests were made.
He told The Reporters, in a telephone interview, that there was no any oita of truth in the news making round that the headquarters of the police command in the state was attacked by unknown gunmen.
“The command hereby wishes to allay the fear and anxiety of the people of Ilorin, especially in Baboko area where some hoodlums blocked the road, preventing free flow of traffic this morning, in protest for the arrested suspected cultist,” he said.
According to Okasanmi, the suspect was in an attempt to escape from the police and took a dive into the river close to the scene of the arrest, adding that in response, the hoodlums took to the street and blocked the road.
“It happened that, the arrest came on the heels of an actionable intelligence available to the Command, indicating that some suspected cultists were assembled at an uncompleted building in Baboko area in readiness for an attack, A team of detectives were detailed to the scene.
“Two of the suspects were arrested, while taking them to the station, one of the suspects by name Musbau Saheed ‘m’ jumped into a nearby river close to the scene.
“An attempt by the police and fire Service Officers to rescue him was delayed by hoodlums who made the rescue attempt difficult. Eventually, he was rescued and taken to hospital where he was confirmed dead.
“The commissioner of police, Mohammed Lawal Bagega, visited the scene and directed a discreet investigation into the matter, he also ordered that effort must be geared toward arresting the fleeing members of the group.
“The CP advised members of the public to go about their lawful endeavors without any fear, as the police is on ground to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, please”, he said.
The online publication recalls that there has been recurrent cases of cult clashes and related deaths, accounting for no fewer than 10 deaths this year alone.
