By Ahmed Ajikobi
There was tension among residents of Kuntu and Adabata communities last Wednesday as suspected hoodlums engaged in gun duel leaving eight persons with gunshot wounds.
The two Ilorin West communities were turned into war zone of sort following sporadic shooting that took over the atmosphere.
According to an eyewitness, commuters and passers-by scampered to safety as the ugly incident lasted about one hour (9pm to 10pm).
There were however conflicting accounts over what may had led to the incident.
While a resident of the area who pleaded anonymity said some loyalist of the notorious criminal, Olatunji Ibrahim, better known as Ariyo were expressing their grievances over his reported death sentence by the court, another account said the incident emanated from the huge sum of money doled out by a politician to a selected group.
The source said, “A politician visited the community last Wednesday and gave out cash gift to some youths.
“After the politician left, the sharing of the money became an issue among the Kuntu and Adabata boys.
“Around 9pm on Wednesday, some youths from Kuntu attacked the Adabata boys in what went to Adabata to attack as a reprisal.
“The Adabata boys launched a reprisal attack around 12midnight and they were shooting sporadically. The Kuntu boys engaged them in a gun duel leaving eight people with gunshot wounds and several others also injured.
“It was a horrible night for residents of Kuntu and Adabata communities as we could not sleep all through that night.”
However, another source informed our reporter that the violence could be traced to the reported death sentence on Ariyo.
“Some youths are happy about the ill fortune of Ariyo while those that are loyal to him engaged the other group that appeared to be celebrating the death sentence,” he stated.
It was learnt that it took the intervention of policemen from the C Division Police Station, Thursday morning to arrest the situation.
It was also gathered that those injured in the violence had been taken to unnamed hospitals in the state capital for treatment.
Speaking during a press conference last Thursday, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbedokun confirmed the incident adding that no live was lost in the incident widespread speculations.
He added that the hoodlums engaged themselves in a battle over the sharing of money and police officers have arrested the situation.
Speaking further, he said, six suspects have been arrested in connection to the crime and they are currently undergoing investigation.
