A street beggar, whose name could not be immediately ascertained, resident in Osogbo, Osun State, was shot dead during clashes by hoodlums fighting over a booty given to them by a property owner around the Gbaemu area of the town.
Residents of the area told PUNCH Metro during a visit, on Tuesday, that hoodlums from the Asoje and Egbatedo areas of Osogbo had been engaging in bloody clashes since Sunday over who should collect money from a man who recently bought a property in the area.
The deceased was said to have been hit by a stray bullet fired by the hoodlums around Asoje during a clash involving the hoodlums.
Also, during a visit to the community, our correspondent observed the presence of some men of the Anti-Cultism Unit of Nigeria Police Force, Osun State Command around Gbaemu junction, as some artisans were pulling down an old house said to have been bought by the new owner.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity because of their safety, three traders in the community said the crisis started on Sunday when some hoodlums from Asoje who had laid siege on the site of the old building when the roof was being removed by the new owner, attacked another hoodlum from Egbatedo, who had come to the area with some boys to ask for money.
One of the traders further explained, “The hoodlum from Egbatedo was coming from Station Road end and as he approached the Gbaemu junction, those hoodlums from Asoje, numbering about 30, bearing arms circled him. They attacked him with broken tiles and left him soaked with blood.
“The man from Egbatedo managed to leave the scene but he later returned with many other boys who carried guns, pestles, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons. By the time they arrived, hoodlums from Asoje had disappeared from the area. Several gunshots were fired leaving people to scamper into safety.
“From that Sunday, the entire neighbourhood has not witnessed respite. Police operatives were deployed but these boys have been going around with arms. During the clashes involving the two groups, a beggar going on the road around Asoje/Balogun Agoro Area was hit by a stray bullet and died. His corpse was later retrieved by his people for burial on Monday.”
Another trader, who also preferred anonymity for her safety, said, “Even this morning, you must have observed the presence of the Anti-Cultism men around the Gbaemu junction. Those hoodlums are still going around with arms. We are operating in fear. Government and security agents must do something urgently.”
When contacted, the Osun Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed that the Gbaemu neighbourhood had been experiencing unrest since Sunday due to clashes by the hoodlums.
She said, “Our men are on the trail of the hoodlums involved. Men of the Osun Anti-Cultism Unit are still there as we speak. We are looking for them. They are running but our men are on their trail. We will arrest all those involved.”
