No fewer than 10 people were confirmed killed in a renewed cult clash that occurred on Sunday morning at Obelle community in Emohua local government area of Rivers State.
LEADERSHIP learnt that the ugly incident has caused panic and forced residents to desert the community for safety.
LEADERSHIP reports that last week Wednesday, unidentified gunmen believed to be members of a cult group invaded the community and killed seven residents.
While the community was still reeling in the pain of the incident, on Sunday morning, the two cult groups in the area resumed their battle for supremacy after over two years of ceasefire.
It was gathered that the supremacy battle on Sunday was between the Naked Wire and Carol cult groups.
It was further gathered that after the Wednesday’s killings, the group whose members were killed invaded Obelle community on Sunday and started attacking relatives of those perceived to be members of the cult group that earlier killed seven people.
A source in the area, who gave his name simply as Kingsley, alleged that it was while the group who lost their members on Wednesday was operating that the rivals launched attack on them.
Kingsley said: “On Sunday, cultists clashed in our community. Many people have been killed. Innocent people were killed. The shooting was too much and the people started leaving the community. About 19 people have been killed.
“They were attacking relatives of the people they said were members of the gang that killed their members. It did not take time, the other group roo came out. They started shooting themselves. People from the two groups also died.
“We are calling on the government to come to our aid. These cults are trying to scatter the people we have in this community. We want the Police and Army to help us.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the clash was linked to levies from an oil company in the area, saying the number of casualty was 10.
Iringe-Koko said: “It is a cult clash between loyalists of Naked Wire and Carol. They are fighting over the control of levies from an oil company operative in the area.
“About 10 people are confirmed dead but no arrest yet as investigation is ongoing.”
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