Stakeholders Move To End Cult Clashes In Ijesaland

… We’ve made arrests – Police

Stakeholders have met to find lasting solutions to cult clashes which claimed several lives in Ijesaland in the recent time.

The incident of cult clashes in Ilesa and its environs was prior to the period of presidential election and campaign when about twenty people were reportedly killed.

Latest of those cult clashes occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Ilesa where two people were reportedly killed in cold blood, bringing the total number of those killed in the last three days to four persons.

This led to an emergency security meeting on Wednesday between the traditional rulers, community leaders and security agencies.

Rising from the close door security meeting, one of the traditional rulers in attendance, the Elegboro of Ijebujesa, Oba Moses Oluwafemi Agunsoye noted that the meeting was held to deliberate on how to bring lasting solution to cult clashes not only in Ilesa but in Ijesaland.

“We deliberated for the past three hours on what we think will bring lasting solution to the killings and maiming in Ijesaland, and we believe God will make it a fruition. We want peace to reign in Ijesaland with immediate effect. We are calling on all the people that are involved to shelve their sword and stop all these killings.

“What we are seeing is beyond the police, we all need to cooperate to give them information before when they (cultists) are planning the police are not there. These people are just like hit and run, they will rush in kill and rush back into the bush. Everybody within the system need to cooperate to assist the police,” Elegboro said.

The Ogboni of Ipole-ijesaland, Oba Oyebade Oyeleye urged the government to find a way to mop up guns and other dangerous weapons in the hand of cultists.

He said other traditional rulers, and community leaders pledged their support to the government to bring lasting solution to the menace and ensure that peace returns to the land.

He said “there is need to control guns in circulation because it’s very obvious that the atrocities committed, people getting killed are through guns. That’s the major weapon. What cuttlasses contribute is very little compare to gun. So we have to find a way on how to sit down with our legislators, probably introduce a bill. If we can control guns probably 50 percent of the problem will solve.”

While reacting to the development, the State Public Relations Officer said they have made some arrest in connection with the killings.