Alleged gang rivalry leaves two dead as calls grow for police probe

A violent clash involving suspected members of rival cult groups and the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) around Kola, Alagbado, Lagos State, has reportedly left at least two people dead, amid allegations of targeted killings, retaliation and escalating gang violence.

Accounts circulating on social media identify one of the central figures in the dispute as Azeez Woko, also known as Eje Woko, who is accused of leading a group of Eiye members involved in the violence.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and it is unclear whether the police have formally declared him wanted or made any public statement on the reported killings.

The reported victims include an OPC member identified as Sholebo and an Eiye member known as Ogba, described in the circulating account as the group’s second-in-command in the area.

According to the account, Ogba was abducted and killed on Saturday, October 24, in what was allegedly a retaliatory operation following Sholebo’s death. The circumstances surrounding both incidents, including the identities of those responsible, require independent confirmation.

The chain of events reportedly began after an Eiye-affiliated musician organised a performance at an apartment around Joke Ayo in the Kola-Alagbado axis.

A dispute allegedly developed between the musician and a former Eiye leader, who was said to have called Woko and other associates to the scene.

The group reportedly arrived armed, prompting the musician and members of his crew to flee. However, one member of the crew was allegedly caught and killed.

Days later, the owner of the apartment reportedly presented closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to an OPC leader identified as Tao Olori to help identify those involved in the incident.

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The account claimed that about three people seen in the footage were arrested, while Woko and others were being sought. It further alleged that Woko subsequently began looking for Olori and other OPC members.

These claims, including the reported arrests and the identities of those captured on CCTV, could not be independently confirmed.

Sholebo’s killing reportedly escalated tensions

The violence allegedly intensified when Sholebo encountered Woko and other members of his group.

According to the circulating account, Sholebo ran into a nearby OPC office, apparently believing that members of the organisation would be available to protect him. However, no OPC members were reportedly present, apart from an elderly man who fled.

Sholebo was subsequently killed, according to the account. It also alleged that Woko’s voice could be heard in a video said to document the killing.

The video and the identity of the person heard speaking would need to be authenticated before any conclusion could be drawn about individual responsibility.

Ogba’s death raises fears of further retaliation

The account further alleged that OPC members, working alongside some Eiye members, tracked Ogba to a newly rented apartment on Saturday night, October 24.

Ogba was reportedly taken to the Amikanle area and killed near an OPC office. He was said to have appeared in the earlier CCTV footage, although the account claimed that his presence at the original dispute was intended to help resolve the disagreement.

A video reportedly recorded before his death allegedly showed Ogba calling on Woko to witness the consequences of the violence.

The circumstances of Ogba’s reported abduction and killing, including who carried out the operation and whether any other individuals were involved, remain unverified.

If established, the reported killing could constitute a serious criminal offence, regardless of the alleged circumstances that preceded it.

Calls for investigation and restraint

The situation was described as tense, raising concerns about the possibility of further attacks and retaliatory violence in the Kola-Alagbado and surrounding communities.

Naija Confra, which circulated the account, called on the parties to pursue peace and urged the authorities to investigate the allegations against Woko.

However, any investigation would need to establish the facts surrounding the reported deaths, authenticate available video and CCTV evidence, identify those responsible and determine whether any suspects have breached the law.

The police should also clarify whether reports of arrests, alleged abductions and the two killings have been formally reported and what steps are being taken to prevent further violence.

Residents are likely to face increased security risks if the alleged cycle of attacks and reprisals continues. Community leaders and security agencies would need to act promptly to protect lives, prevent further confrontations and ensure that anyone suspected of a crime is dealt with through lawful procedures.