The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the clash between rivalry gangs in Ibadan, the state capital which reportedly claimed lives of eleven people in the clash.
According to police, the rivalry gang war ensued between OPC members and youths in some parts of Ibadan.
Police who confirmed the mayhem said they could not confirm the exact number of casualties involved in the incident.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Adewale Osifeso said the mayhem is true but yet to establish the number of casualties.
“The story is true. Investigations are ongoing to establish the number of casualties and circumstances that led to the incident”, PPRO revealed.
He maintained that “additional operatives have been deployed to the scene to maintain law and order, saying journalists would be updated in due course”.
The incident was earlier reported that 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 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.
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 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 clashes between the youths in the affected areas but got out hands with the support of OPC members against 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 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 Friday evening, the casualties has increased to eleven on both sides.
According to him, “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 this afternoon the death 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.” he added.
