Three persons were confirmed dead on Monday while many vehicles and property worth millions of naira were destroyed following violence that erupted among thugs in Ilorin, Kwara State.
About 15 victims, including three siblings of same parents, were said to have sustained bullet wounds.
Also, an airforce official was injured when his patrol van was shot at by the rampaging thugs.
Residents of the area were said to have fled to safe communities following the pandemonium.
There were two accounts as to the cause of the mayhem.
A source said it started after some hoodlums clashed with some vigilante men at Alore, Ogidi ward in the Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state.
Another source said the thugs, suspected to be supporters of rival political parties in the state, engaged in a clash.
He stated that the fight started on Friday around the Abayawo area of Ilorin and spread to Alore-Ode Adana-Omoda, Ode-Alawusa Okelele after which one person was said to have injured.
He added that another rival gang of thugs engaged in a reprisal on Sunday after which a victim, identified simply as Ebba, was killed.
Some hoodlums were said to have attempted to avenge Ebba’s death and engaged in another hostility for about five hours on Monday.
Our correspondent learnt that the thugs, who wore masks, brandished weapons such as cutlasses, irons, sticks and guns.
It was also learnt that some youths in the affected areas engaged the rampaging thugs to stop them from further invasion of their communities.
Many vehicles and property were damaged while the thugs allegedly looted many shops and carted away goods and cash.
The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the violence. He said only three people died, while a naval police officer was injured when his patrol van was shot at.
He also said that 12 suspects had been arrested in connection with the mayhem.
He said, “Some thugs engaged in violence. They were damaging vehicles and firing at random. In the process, one airforce patrol vehicle was fired at and one officer was injured. In the process of moping up the situation and calming down the area, two of the miscreants were shot dead. Their remains are lying at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital mortuary. Twelve suspects were also arrested.”
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