Following the murder of a popular ‘area boy’ named Tommy in Abeokuta, the state’s capital, operatives of the Ogun State Police Command arrested 18 people.
Tommy was reportedly killed late Thursday night at Panseke by unidentified individuals.
The victim was said to be an Oluwo resident who was followed to Panseke where he allegedly went to buy food.
Pandemonium erupted, according to reports, when a group of men wielding various weapons stormed the scene and pounced on Tommy.
The assailants allegedly dealt him several machete cuts before fleeing the scene after he breathed his last.
Many Oluwo residents were forced to flee their homes as the area was gripped by palpable fear as a result of the development.
A gruesome photograph of the deceased obtained by our correspondent revealed that he had been hacked to death.
According to a source, his assailants butchered him in the head and other parts of his body before leaving him dead in a pool of his own blood.
It was rumored that the victim was murdered by members of the Aiye confraternity because he was a member of the rival Eiye cult group.
On Friday morning, when our correspondent visited some areas in Oluwo and Panseke, there was tension in the air due to fear of retaliation.
Our correspondent confirmed that the shops and residential buildings at Oluwo were under lock and key.
The area, which is mostly populated by students, was deserted because many of them were on their way to their various homes.
People were seen running helter-skelter as some stern-looking guys moved around on motorcycles when our correspondent visited Oluwo.
“There is going to be a serious fight in Oluwo,” a source in the area told our correspondent. That man who was murdered will not die in that manner. He was a well-liked figure in Abeokuta. Please take cover and keep yourself safe.”
When contacted, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident, claiming it was a cult clash.
According to Oyeyemi, 18 people have been arrested in connection with the killing.
He urged residents not to panic, saying that the police were on top of the situation.
“It was a cult clash,” Oyeyemi explained, “and the cultists killed one of them last night around Panseke.” In connection with the incident, 18 people have been arrested.
“There is no need for the people to be afraid. We have sent police officers to the area. We’ve got the situation under control.”
