A brutal cult clash in the ancient town of Owo, Ondo State, has left five people dead, including a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Fisayo Oladipupo, his mother, a child, and two others. The violence, which erupted early on Monday, has thrown the community into turmoil, heightening fears and tensions across the town.
The victims were caught in the crossfire of a violent confrontation between rival cult groups locked in a deadly supremacy battle. According to reports from the town, the deadly clash unfolded around 2:00 am and lasted for several hours. Oladipupo, a former youth leader of the APC in the Owo Local Government, was killed in a targeted attack believed to be linked to a long-standing family feud.
“At around 2 am, gunshots rang out across the community. The sounds were terrifying, and by morning, we learned that Fisayo Oladipupo, a well-known APC member, was dead,” a source close to the community revealed. “The cult war had been brewing for a while, but nobody expected such violence. It was clear that Oladipupo’s killing was not a random act.”
The attack on Oladipupo is suspected to have been a revenge killing, according to local sources. These sources claim that the attack was the result of a feud that had been simmering for more than a decade. “The killers were people who knew Oladipupo. The attack seemed like a reprisal over an old family dispute,” the source said.
The feud, which allegedly began after a house was torched years ago, reportedly escalated when the house of one of the attackers was also set ablaze by a group of youths. The cycle of violence culminated in the fatal shooting of Oladipupo, which in turn sparked further bloodshed in the community.
Following Oladipupo’s death, more victims were reported in different parts of the town. A woman and her child were among those killed in the crossfire. They were reportedly struck by stray bullets while attempting to flee to safety in the Mobile area. The incident has left many residents in fear for their lives.
“We were just going about our daily lives when the shooting started. The woman and her child were trying to escape when they were hit. It was horrifying,” another resident of Owo recalled. “We never expected such brutality in our town.”
Aside from Oladipupo and his family, two other victims, believed to be cult members, were shot dead during the gun battle between the rival cult groups. The violent exchange of gunfire is said to have spread to the Eyinogbe, Ekusi, and Uselu areas of the town, further deepening the community’s fear.
In the wake of the bloodshed, Owo was left in shock, with residents unsure of how to proceed. Many residents remained indoors, as the police and other security forces struggled to maintain order.
“We heard that there was a shooting earlier in the morning, but we didn’t know how many people were involved or who the victims were,” said one local business owner. “It was after a few hours that we started hearing about the APC chieftain and his family.”
The police were quick to respond to the violence, but it was clear that the situation had already escalated. Funmi Odunlami, the state police spokesperson, confirmed the deaths and assured the public that investigations were underway. However, she was unable to confirm whether Oladipupo was among the victims at the time of her statement.
“We can confirm that four people have been killed, and we are investigating the matter. Normalcy has been restored in the community, but we will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice,” Odunlami stated.
The brutal killings have left Owo reeling, with the community still trying to come to terms with the loss. Residents fear that this latest bout of violence is only the tip of the iceberg, as the feud between cult groups in the area seems to be far from over. Tensions have risen in the wake of Oladipupo’s killing, with many questioning how such violence could have erupted in what was once considered a peaceful town.
“I never imagined something like this could happen in Owo,” said a long-time resident. “It’s a sad day for the town. We just want to live in peace, but this cult violence is becoming too much to bear.”
The killings are not the first signs of unrest in Ondo State, which has seen an increase in cult-related violence in recent years. Cultism, often tied to criminal gangs, political power struggles, and revenge killings, has plagued various parts of the state, particularly in urban areas like Akure and Owo.
As cult groups continue their battle for supremacy, residents of Owo find themselves caught in the crossfire. Local security forces have struggled to contain the violence, and many believe that the situation may worsen if the root causes of the conflict are not addressed. The involvement of political figures, such as Oladipupo, in the violence raises concerns about the intersection of cultism and political power struggles in the region.
A political analyst, speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted the implications of cult-related violence for the upcoming elections. “Cultism has been used by some political figures to gain control and intimidate rivals. The recent killing of an APC chieftain could be a sign that these groups are once again attempting to manipulate the political landscape,” the analyst stated.
For now, the people of Owo are left to grapple with the aftermath of the violence, hoping that the intervention of the police and other authorities will bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace to the troubled community.
