Tension gripped parts of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Friday following the brutal killing of a man popularly known as Small Rugged. The incident comes barely two weeks after the murder of Olalekan Oyeyemi, also known as Emir Ajagungbade, in Ile-Ife.
According to eyewitness accounts, Small Rugged was attacked in broad daylight around the Italolokan area of Osogbo by a yet-to-be-identified group said to have been heavily armed. The brazen nature of the assault has heightened fear and uncertainty among residents, who are still reeling from recent violent incidents in the region.
Sources in the area said the attackers struck during the afternoon, leaving residents and other members of the public in panic, as the assailants allegedly carried out the attack before fleeing the area.
According to accounts obtained by our correspondent, Small Rugged was allegedly subjected to a brutal attack and reportedly axed to death.
The circumstances leading to the incident, however, remained unclear as of press time, while there was no immediate official account establishing the identities of the attackers or the motive behind the killing.
The development reportedly sent motorists, commercial transport operators and other road users into panic, forcing many to abandon routes around Oja-Oba, Oke-Ayepe, Isale-Osun and adjoining areas.
Some residents were also said to have hurriedly closed their businesses or remained indoors following the report of renewed violence.
The latest incident has inevitably revived memories of the killing of the Emir in Ile-Ife and heightened fears of possible retaliation among rival groups.
However, it remained unclear whether Small Rugged’s death was directly connected to the earlier incident, as investigators had yet to establish any link between the two killings.
Sources gave different accounts of what might have triggered Friday’s attack. One version suggested that Small Rugged could have been targeted because of his alleged association with the Emir and possible knowledge of events surrounding his death.
Another account, however, claimed that he was attacked by an opposing group. Neither account had been independently verified, making the motive for the killing a subject requiring further investigation.
The violence was also said to have claimed the lives of other individuals. One of those reportedly killed was a popular member of Small Rugged’s group, identified simply as Oosa, while another victim was said to be unidentified as of press time.
There were also reports that several other people sustained gunshot injuries during the incident and were hurriedly taken to undisclosed hospitals for medical attention.
The exact number of injured persons, however, could not be independently established.
The reported attack has raised fresh concerns among residents over the presence of firearms and the possibility of a wider confrontation if the identities of those responsible are not quickly established.
Community members expressed concern that continued circulation of unverified information could further heighten tension and trigger reprisals.
A resident, Adekunle, where the attack was perpetrated, said: “Of particular concern is the fact that the reported attack occurred during the day and in a populated part of the state capital.”
However, residents who ordinarily depend on the affected roads for transportation were said to have been forced to change their routes, while commercial activities in some locations were reportedly disrupted by the sudden security scare.
The incident also comes at a sensitive period following heightened security concerns surrounding motor parks and groups linked to transport activities in Osun.
The killing of the Emir in Ile-Ife had already generated anxiety and competing claims over the circumstances surrounding his death, prompting calls for a thorough investigation and measures to prevent reprisal attacks.
In its reaction, the Osun State Police Command has confirmed a shooting incident suspected to be a clash between rival cult groups around the Oke-Bale area of Osogbo, the state capital.
The command said two persons were killed at the scene of the incident, with one of the deceased identified as a man popularly known as Small Rugged, while the identity of the second victim had yet to be established.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police, Abiodun Ojelabi, four other persons sustained gunshot injuries during the incident and were rescued by police operatives and taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Ojelabi said the command became aware of the incident following the outbreak of violence in the area, adding that the circumstances surrounding the shooting were still being investigated.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, had directed tactical teams to immediately move into the area and commence efforts to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The police spokesperson described the incident as a nefarious act, assuring residents that the command was taking necessary steps to restore calm and prevent further violence in the affected area.
The latest development has heightened security concerns in parts of Osogbo, with reports that motorists and other road users avoided some routes around Oke-Bale and adjoining areas following the shooting.
The command urged residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, while appealing to members of the public with useful information about the incident or the whereabouts of the suspects to make such information available to the police.
The police intervention is expected to focus on preventing possible reprisal attacks, identifying those behind the shooting and determining the circumstances that led to the clash.
The command also reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, stressing that those found responsible for the violence would be made to face the law.
