Notorious Rival Gangs Fight In Ibadan; Burn Houses, Cars

No fewer than 20 shops, 3 houses and several vehicles were destroyed when gang members engaged in a free-for-all in the Isale-Osi, Born Photo and Gidarami areas of Ibadan, Oyo State.The deadly clash began on Sunday and continued on Monday as residents fled their homes.

A witness said many of the suspected hoodlums sustained machete injuries, while others were stabbed with knives and broken bottles.

The witness, who is also a resident of the area, told Punch that the clash was caused by the death of one of the notorious gang leader, who was said to have been killed by members of the rival group during a party in the area last week.

“The gangs are from Popoyemoja and Born Photo areas in Ibadan. One of the leaders of the gang was killed last week at a party. His members alleged that he was killed by a rival group and they planned to avenge his death. They came on Sunday night; but it was not a serious clash.

“On Monday, they returned and a fight broke out between the two groups. They started burning shops and destroying vehicles and houses. They used guns, knives, machetes, broken bottles and other dangerous objects in the fight. Several members of the gangs were injured. We had to flee the area for fear of being caught up in the fight. They targeted any house where any member of the rival cult lived in. My sister’s shop was burnt, with goods worth thousands of naira destroyed. As they unleashed mayhem, they sang war songs,” said the witness.

He said that when the targeted rival members fled, the hoodlums refused to leave, targeting relatives of their perceived enemies.

A member of the state House of Assembly, Kehinde Subair, was said to have visited scenes.

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, who confirmed the mayhem, said some arrests had been made and that normalcy had returned to the areas.