Ogun deadly incident result of rival gang violence, unrelated to Yayi campaign event, say authorities

The Ogun State Police Command has verified a violent cult clash in Abeokuta that resulted in one fatality on Sunday, with investigations currently underway to apprehend those accountable.

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A statement released on Sunday by Oluseyi Babaseyi, the State command spokesperson, revealed that detectives from the Oke Itoku Division reported the incident occurred at approximately 2:45 pm near Wasimi Ake Road, within the vicinity of Centenary Hall and Lotus Bank, leading towards Ijemo Agbadu.

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The Command emphasized that the violent incident was unrelated to any political gathering or public event in the area, serving to quell potential rumors about its origins.

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The police statement explicitly clarified that the incident did not take place at Ake Palace, nor was it connected to the Yayi Progressive Movement inauguration programme held at the same location, thereby dispelling any misconceptions.

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Preliminary investigations by the police indicated that suspected rival cult groups engaged in a gun battle before fleeing into adjacent streets, prompting widespread panic among local residents.

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Police operatives who responded to distress calls reported that they encountered the aftermath of the clash upon arrival at the scene, where they found a victim, identified as "Stone," with critical gunshot injuries, lying in a pool of blood.

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The victim was immediately evacuated to the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, with the assistance of the State Ambulance Service, where he was subsequently pronounced dead by medical personnel, and his remains have since been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

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According to Oluseyi Babaseyi, normalcy has been restored to the area, with additional security personnel deployed to prevent any recurrence of the incident.

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The Command has initiated an intensified manhunt for the perpetrators, actively pursuing credible leads to ensure their swift arrest and prosecution, as outlined in the statement.

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Residents have been urged to remain calm yet vigilant, while the Command has encouraged the public to provide useful information to aid ongoing investigations into the cult-related clash.