No fewer than 20 shops, three houses and yet to be identified number of vehicles were burnt on Monday as rival gangs clashed in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The rival groups it was learnt engaged in a free for all at three different areas of Isale-Osi, Born Photo and Gidarami.
Many residents were said to be seriously injured as some fled for fear of being attacked.
It was leant that the fight began Sunday night and continued on Monday with more deadly weapons freely used by members of the two gangs.
The hoodlums brandished weapons like machetes, cutlasses, knives, broken bottles and charms.
A resident of the Born Photo disclosed that the violence erupted as a result of the death of a notorious gang leader, who was said to have been killed by members of the rival group, during a party in the area last week.
He said “The gangs are from Popoyemoja and Born Photo area in Ibadan. One of the leaders of the gangs was killed last week at a party. The members alleged that their leader was killed by a rival group and they planned to avenge his death. They came in the night on Sunday but it was not a serious fight.
“But today 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 of the rival cult group was living.
“My sister’s shop was burnt, with goods worth thousands of naira destroyed. As they unleashed mayhem, they were singing war songs.”
He added that even when the targeted gang members had run away from the areas, the hoodlums refused to leave, targeting relatives of their perceived enemies.
The Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Kehinde Subair was said to have earlier visited the scene to assess damages.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude while confirming the incident, however, noted that some arrests have been made and that normalcy had returned to the areas.
Odude said: “Two rival groups engaged in a fight in the areas, but normalcy has returned.
“We made some arrests and investigation is still ongoing. Police will not tolerate activities of hoodlums in the state.
“Our men are still on ground to forestall further clash and disturbance in the areas by the groups”.
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