Ibadan boils again as OPC, rival gang war continues
EMERGENCY DIGEST- No fewer than eleven youths have been allegedly killed in a gang war between the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and youths of Inalende, Abebi and Oopo area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Thursday.
It would be recalled that two people were allegedly killed on Wednesday in Iwo-road area when shop owners and members of the Park Management System (PMS) engaged in fight for all.
It was reliably gathered that the clash had started since Wednesday when the youths from Inalende killed two people in Oopo with the support of the youths from Abebi.
The three streets are close areas in the heart of Ibadan, the state capital.
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A reliable source in the area who gave the names of the first two victims as Transformer and Ishaja disclosed that the two were killed on Thursday while casualties increased to eleven when members of OPC came out to support one of the rival gangs yesterday night through Friday morning.
It was gathered that the crisis is the usual clash between the youths in the affected areas but got out of hands with the support of OPC members against a rival gang.
Reliable source account stated the mayhem has claimed seven members of the rival gangs as well as four of OPC members.
The source said the youths are still in the area vowing to retaliate the killing of their members despite the heavy presence of the security agencies in the areas.
In what looked like a reprisal, sources informed that four boys were killed before Friday morning but as at Friday evening, the casualties have increased to eleven on both sides.
Speaking with Saturday INDEPENDENT, the source said: “I am confirming it. I don’t want you to mention my name. The two boys were down on Thursday while another four were killed overnight but as at this afternoon, the death toll has increased to eleven.
“Police and NSCDC are here to maintain peace but those guys are still threatening to retaliate. I wish the police can still reinforce to our area to ensure more lives are not lost.”
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo State Command, Adewale Osifeso said the mayhem is true but yet to establish the number of casualties.
