Suspected cultists on Monday morning struck at Abayawo area of Ilorin in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing a tri-cyclist in the process.

The victim, Abdulsamad Orija (23), who plied the Kwara Polytechnic route, was shot dead in front of Abayawo mosque and later macheted with some of his body parts removed.

A resident told our correspondent during a visit to the area that Abdulsamad was shot at close range with a double barrel in the stomach and later dragged to the road and butchered.

“After he was shot dead, they plucked out his left eye and cut off his left wrist before they butchered his head and body beyond recognition. It was gruesome,” he added.

A close friend of the deceased (name withheld), however, said “he was killed after the cultists realised he was a wrong target but because he recognized them.”

It was gathered that trouble started when about four suspected cultists on a Keke Napep first stormed the area around past 9pm wielding double barrels and pistols.

“But they were confronted by rivals and they left only to return some hours later numbering over 50 and were shooting sporadically without anybody stopping them.

“In the ensuing melee, another person was shot in the arm but escaped. They shot sporadically from past 12am to past 4 am on Monday,” a resident said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident.

According to him, “although the case was not reported, when we heard about it, our men went to the area only to discover that the victim had been taken to the Muslim cemetery, Osere, for burial. (Daily Trust)