By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo

Four unidentified men were reportedly killed, while five others were injured in a cult clash that occurred in Ondo town, Ondo Local Government area of Ondo State, on Tuesday evening.

It was gathered that during the clash, the deceased were shot around Ife Garage, Sabo, and Christ Land in the Oka area of the city by masked men suspected to be members of a rival cult group.

According to an eyewitness, three members of the Ẹiyẹ confraternity were shot dead in a bloody clash that occurred at Ife Garage, while one was killed at Sabo, in front of a local shop popularly known as “Mama Shop.”

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident and described the deceased as notorious cult members who had been on the police command’s wanted list.

The PPRO said, “The command can confirm the murder of four people and five injured, all of whom belong to one cult group or the other. I want to appeal to members of the community to go about their lawful businesses without fear or panic. Security agencies are on ground to protect lives and property.”

Speaking on the police raid conducted on Wednesday morning at New Garage, Ayeyemi in Ondo, Ayanlade stated, “Desperate times require desperate actions. Anyone arrested during the raid has one or two things to do with the clash. Our men have acted rightly, and if any of them are found to have acted wrongly, they will face disciplinary action. But if they have done the right thing, people should commend them.”

The Hope gathered that as early as this morning, the police raided some houses in New Garage, Ayeyemi, in Ondo, breaking doors to gain entry and arrest suspected cult members. As at the time of writing this report, arrests were still ongoing.

The police are currently patrolling the affected areas, especially New Garage in Ayeyemi, believed to be a stronghold of one of the cult factions. It was learned during the filing of this report that some arrests had been made, though the exact number of suspects could not be ascertained.

Ayanlade added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend those behind the killings.