Heavy gunshots were heard yesterday in troubled parts of Ilorin, Kwara State, where three people were killed between Friday and Monday in a fracas by hoodlums loyal to rival political parties in the state.

DailyTrust correspondent gathered that the death toll has risen to five even as residents remain indoors for fear of attacks.

The areas affected are Ode Alausa and Alore in Ilorin metropolis, where thugs engaged one another following disagreement over the sum of N20,000 donated by a politician.

This was after some All Progressives Congress (APC) members defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogidi ward of Ilorin West Local Government on Friday last week. Both parties have traded blame over the attack.

Three casualties were recorded between Friday and Monday, but the death toll rose to five yesterday when an unidentified Okada rider was allegedly shot dead at Oloje area, while another person simply identified as Dauda reportedly died in cross fire by the warring hoodlums.

Two Air Force officers deployed to the trouble spots were also said to have been attacked during the fracas.

Residents of the area told Daily Trust that heavy gunshots were heard around 11:00 am despite the presence of soldiers.

It was further gathered that the warring hoodlums tried to beat up security men stationed at Abayawo junction.

When contacted, spokesman of the state police command, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi, denied further casualties, saying, "Nobody was killed except what happened on Monday". He said normalcy has returned to the affected areas.

Meanwhile, National President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants' Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi, in a chat with newsmen, decried the fracas, saying the emirate is worried about the security situation in the metropolis.