At least, 16 students of Kwara State Polytechnic were killed at the weekend during a clash between Aiye and Eiye cult groups. The police arrested 30 suspected cultists.
This is even as six people accused of cultism were docked before a Lagos Magistrate’s court sitting at Igbosere yesterday.
In Kwara State, while the cause of the clash could not be ascertained, it was gathered that the polytechnic had since been closed down indefinitely.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, who spoke in Ilorin, confirmed the arrest of many of the suspects yesterday, noting that 14 people among them were found culpable after screening.
The PPRO, who said investigation was on-going, noted that the 14 suspects would be charged to court this week.
One of the victims was gunned down during screening of aspirants for the Students Union Government’s election at the weekend, while another victim was reportedly killed at Asa Dam Road by suspected members of Eiye confraternity.
An eyewitness said the death led to a renewed clash among 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.
At Niger Road, a 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 Tuntun area of Ilorin.
“Another 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 matcheted by his assailants”, he said.
Meanwhile, six suspected cultists were yesterday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for alleged breach of public peace.
The docked defendants include Adeshina Folorunsho, 43; Ebenezer Akinyele, 26; Abdulsalam Tunde, 26; Morufu Ogunyinka, 34; Adebayo Joseph, 28; and Kasali Olawale, 27.
The prosecutor, Mr. Adegoke Akinlabi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, informed the court presided over by Chief Magistrate O. I. Adelaja, that the defendants were on August 15, 2015, at about 11.40a.m., along Iponri Railway Line, while armed with dangerous weapons, such as broken bottles, axe and cutlasses, engaged one another in street fight.
The offences according to the prosecutor, are punishable under sections 116 (d), 54, and 41 of the Criminal Laws Vol. 44 Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2011. All the seven accused, who displayed injuries pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, the defence counsel, Mr. Ola Ogunbiyi and Mrs. Imelda Adebambo, urged the court to grant them bail.
Chief Magistrate Adelaja admitted each of them bail for N100,000.00, with two sureties in the like sum.
