No fewer than five residents of Ilesa, Osun State, have been killed during clashes between two rival cult groups and suspected land grabbers.

The fight started on Friday afternoon after suspected cultists stormed a new building that was being roofed at Omi-Tuntun area of Ilesa and demanded for money from workers at the site.

One witness, Bisi Oyetade, said the cultists, who also operate as land grabbers in the area, were told to stop extorting workers at the site by some other suspected cultists, said to be relations of the house owner. 

Mr Oyetade said that in the process, clashes broke out and one of the land grabbers was overpowered, dragged to the bush and hacked to death by the gang protecting the new building.

He said that the hoodlums regrouped at night and avenged the death of their colleague, storming Ijoka area of Ilesa and killing another suspected cultist.

He added that in a bid to maim their opponents, an innocent woman was shot dead by the warring suspected cultists on Friday night.

According to him, the rampaging youths resumed their hostilities on Saturday and ended up killing two innocent residents.

The police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects while some patrol vans of Ijamo and Ayeso Police Divisions in Ilesa were seen patrolling the town in order to restore peace and order. 
(NAN)