Police have arrested 19 suspects in connection with a violent cult clash that rocked the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday.
The clash resulted in the death of four individuals, including Fisayo Oladipo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former youth leader.
Sources revealed that Mr. Oladipo was shot dead around 2:00 a.m. while returning from a nightclub.
The newly deployed Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, confirmed the arrests during an on-the-spot assessment of the crime scene on Tuesday.
He expressed sadness over the loss of lives and disclosed that investigations had commenced to unravel the incident.
According to Mr. Afolabi, the suspects are currently being profiled to determine their level of involvement in the violence. “Those arrested are being investigated, and we will ensure they face the full weight of the law,” he assured.
During his visit to key areas in the town, including Eyin Ogbe, Ijebu Owo, and the Palace Area, Mr. Afolabi noted that security personnel had been strategically deployed to prevent further clashes. He also emphasized the enforcement of the curfew declared by the state government.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa had on Monday imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew in Owo to curb the violence.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor directed residents to remain indoors during the curfew, with exceptions only for essential services such as hospitals, emergency services, and law enforcement.
“Due to the ongoing violent cult clashes and security disturbances in Owo, which have led to the loss of lives, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has ordered a dawn-to-dusk curfew in the town until further notice. All residents are required to remain indoors during the curfew,” the statement read.
The governor also tasked security agencies with apprehending the perpetrators and restoring peace to the community.
Residents have been urged to cooperate with law enforcement to ensure calm is fully restored in Owo.
