The Lagos State Police Command has initiated an investigation into a recent clash between rival cult groups that resulted in the loss of at least three lives in the Lady Lak area of Bariga. The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Thursday.As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the clash. However, according to SP Hundeyin, the existing law pertains to cult groups, and their identification as such is sufficient to secure convictions in court. He further emphasized that the individuals involved in this incident are confirmed cultists.Eyewitnesses revealed that the violent encounter on Wednesday evening caused panic among residents and those returning home from work. A video clip, shared by a source from the locality, displayed the lifeless bodies of three unidentified men lying in a pool of blood, with two of the victims displaying severe head lacerations.In the video, local residents were observed turning the corpses to identify them, expressing grief and shedding tears. The words, “Oh Idris, Serre get up,” could be heard as the community mourned the tragic loss.A source within the area, speaking about the incident, stated, “Gunshots were heard in the vicinity, and some individuals sustained injuries. While the reason for the clash remains unknown, it is widely known that this area is a stronghold of cult activity.”James Taiwo, a resident of the community, took to Twitter to provide details about the attack involving cult members. According to his tweet, three individuals lost their lives in the assault. One of them was identified as Sere, a popular and amicable individual who was also involved in fraudulent online activities.Taiwo’s tweet also shed light on the ongoing power struggle within the cult groups. He mentioned that the clash was an extension of a previous incident in which a member of the Aiye Confraternity was killed while attending a birthday party outside their territory.Surprisingly, the assailants in this recent clash were not members of the rival Eiye cult group but instead individuals belonging to the Aiye group itself. The altercation reportedly erupted over a leadership dispute between factions representing the Idi Aba and Ogundola groups.As news of the violent clash circulated, a concerned Twitter user with the handle @ApcPdpN shared another video from the scene and called upon Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to bolster security measures across the state. The tweet highlighted the loss of numerous lives in the ongoing conflict, describing Bariga as a notorious haven for cultists and criminals.With the investigation now underway, residents of Bariga are left grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event, while the authorities strive to maintain law and order and prevent further escalation of violence in the area.