Two killed, many injured as cult groups clash in Lagos

Dozens of residents in the Ketu area of Lagos State on Sunday complained bitterly after suspected thugs swooped on and robbed them of their valuables.
These complaints came after two cult groups clashed, leading to the death of two of their members.
It was learnt that the two cult groups clashed in Ketu on Saturday but the battle continued till Sunday morning. The battle was said to be have been so fierce that residents scampered for safety as shops were vandalised.
As at Saturday, businesses and transport activities were said to have been grounded.
Traders hastily close shops, while commercial bus drivers parked off the highway, fearful that the rampaging youths might vandalise their vehicles.
Eyewitnesses’ accounts claimed that thugs used the opportunity to embark on a robbing spree.
As at Sunday, several vehicles had been vandalised. One of the eyewitnesses explained that the conflict between the rival groups was due to a feud between the Eiye Confraternity and KK gang.
Fighting between the two groups started in the New Year while youths in the area were having their annual carnival known as Westside Carnival.
Two members of the KK gang were reportedly killed during the carnival.
It was further gathered that on Friday, before the New Year, the gangs engaged in a free for all, wielding dangerous weapons. One eyewitness claimed to have sighted guns and machetes used in the fight at Taike Street. Two members of the KK gang were killed in the process.
On Saturday, the angry KK boys came for a reprisal at Cele Bus Stop, which many people believed is Eiye members’ territory.
The KK boys were said to have been singing and chanting that they must kill two of the Eiye cult group members or they would not leave or stop the battle. Another eyewitness revealed: “Many innocent people were seriously injured in this fight between the two groups.
“Many people, who were just walking past or walked into the conflict, we attacked and robbed.”
A victim, who sought for annoymity, said: “It was around 11pm. “I was in a commercial bus when some thugs stopped our bus. “They ordered us out and collected all our valuables and slapped some of us. “They stole my phone.
“When I got home, I called policemen at Ketu Division but they arrived too late.
“They came about three hours later, at exactly 2am and chased the thugs away.”
It was also gathered that at about 5am, another fight broke out, lasting for about two hours until a team of policemen intervened.
Streets in the area, which suffered the impact of the clash, were: Aladelola, Jimoh Balogun, Love All and Sonaike.
Some shops were vandalised and pieces of broken bottles that had been smashed to smithereens were left on the ground.
On a particular street, the windscreens of three cars and two tricycles were shattered.
One Yakubu Aremu, who explained that he was a shop owner, said that he just checked into the shop and was supposed to begin operation on Monday.
But the attack on his shop may have to put his beginning a new business on hold.
According to Aremu, he had spent most of his money on paying for the shop and buying goods to stock it.
Almost close to tears, Aremu said that the youths vandalized his shop.
He is now worried that he has to source for another money just to put the shop back in shape.
Most of the residents, who shied away from journalists and did not want their names mentioned, said the activities of the cult groups were becoming incessant.
They urged the Lagos State Police Command to quickly look into the matter to forestall further loss of lives of innocent citizens in the state.