Three feared killed, property razed as cultists clash in Mushin

Three persons were feared killed, many injured and properties razed as suspected cultists went on the rampage at Mushin, Lagos.

It was gathered that rampaging Eiye cultist on Monday night stormed Akingbode and Olateju areas of Mushin, torching houses, vehicles and looting shops to retaliate the shooting of their member in a bar at Ilupeju on Sunday.

A suspected Aiye cult member known as Plantain was alleged to have opened fire at the bar while drunk, killing an Eiye cultists and leaving three others injured.

Angered by the shooting, the Eiye cult group, it was gathered, trailed Plantain to his Mushin neighbourhood on Monday morning where they attacked anyone on sight until they were dispersed by police operatives.

Not satisfied, the hoodlums were said to have returned around 11pm on Monday and torched about 60 vehicles, burnt houses and looted shops belonging to innocent traders.

They were said to have fired sporadic gunshots into the air causing commotion that left many people fleeing the chaos injured.

To ensure they wreaked maximum havoc, the invaders, it was gathered, prevented firemen from accessing the area that night to put out the fire.

It was gathered that it took the intervention of police operatives form the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Area D Command and Olosan Division, Mushin for firefighters to enter the affected areas to combat the fire.

A resident, who refused to be named, lamented the destruction on the street, wondering why the hoodlums did not settle their differences were it began.

“The boys were fully armed. I see no reason why they should come to our street, they should have settled it at Ilupeju instead. We have incurred a lot of debts.

“The gangsters openly brandished guns, cutlasses, bottles and other dangerous weapons during the fracas. They invaded some other streets and started shooting sporadically into the air,” he said.

Another resident Abass alleged that those feared killed were members of the cult groups, expressing fears of a reprisal attack.

“When the Eiye cult group came on Monday morning, it was the rival cultists that chased them away before they regrouped and returned at night.

“They vandalised vehicles and set some shops ablaze. Police should wake up from their slumber and take up their responsibilities because we notified Olosan Division to come to our rescue when the cultists entered, unfortunately, they were nowhere to be found. If they were on ground I believe most of the vehicles vandalised would still remain intact,” he lamented.

An Ilupeju resident decried serious shootings at Ilupeju, Adesiyan and Shyllon since Monday with no security presence.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu said he was yet to get details of the incident and promised to revert.

(The Nation)