Two students have been killed in a clash that broke out between two rival cult groups in Esa-Oke town in Osun State.

One of the casualties was a fresh graduate of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, identified only as Taoreed.

Another was said to be an undergraduate of the state-owned polytechnic.

Taoreed was hit by a stray bullet during a clash between rival cult groups in the community.

The tragic incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday, 23 September, shortly after Taoreed had collected his National Youth Service Corps call-up letter from the institution.

According to eyewitnesses, the violence began a day earlier, on Monday, 22 September, when suspected cultists clashed near the school premises during the signing-out celebration of final-year students.

A student of the institution, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that gunshots were heard during the event, forcing students to flee for safety.

He said, “We were signing out after our exams in the afternoon when we suddenly started hearing gunshots outside the school premises.

“Everyone ran for cover. It was later that we discovered that a final-year student had been killed by cultists. It was a terrible situation.”

The student recalled that a similar incident had occurred the previous year during another sign-out celebration, noting that insecurity had become a recurring problem during such gatherings.

A video showed students running helter-skelter around the school gate as gunfire erupted.

A police source revealed that Taoreed’s death occurred the following day during a reprisal attack along the Ilesa–Esa-Oke Road.

The source explained that the deceased had gone to the school to collect his NYSC call-up letter and was waiting to board a bus home when gunmen suddenly opened fire.

“What happened was a reprisal after the final-year student was killed on Monday. The cultists had targeted their rivals in the area where Taoreed was trying to board a bus.

“They started shooting, and one of the stray bullets hit him. When he heard the gunshots, he ran for safety without realising he had been hit. He was later found in a nearby bush, where he crawled to but was unresponsive,” the source said.

It was gathered that Taoreed’s NYSC call-up letter was found inside a black cross bag he was carrying at the time of the incident.

When contacted, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the development.

Ojelabi described it as a cult-related clash that claimed two lives.

“It was a cult clash. Two students were killed. One died on the spot, and the other died in the hospital.

“Efforts are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators,” Ojelabi stated. (THE GUARDIAN)