No fewer than 10 folks had been confirmed killed in a renewed cult conflict that occurred on Sunday morning at Obelle neighborhood in Emohua native authorities space of Rivers State.
LEADERSHIP learnt that the ugly incident has triggered panic and compelled residents to abandon the neighborhood for security.
LEADERSHIP stories that final week Wednesday, unidentified gunmen believed to be members of a cult group invaded the neighborhood and killed seven residents.
Whereas the neighborhood was nonetheless reeling within the ache of the incident, on Sunday morning, the 2 cult teams within the space resumed their battle for supremacy after over two years of ceasefire.
It was gathered that the supremacy battle on Sunday was between the Bare Wire and Carol cult teams.
It was additional gathered that after the Wednesday’s killings, the group whose members had been killed invaded Obelle neighborhood on Sunday and began attacking family of these perceived to be members of the cult group that earlier killed seven folks.
A supply within the space, who gave his identify merely as Kingsley, alleged that it was whereas the group who misplaced their members on Wednesday was working that the rivals launched assault on them.
Kingsley mentioned: “On Sunday, cultists clashed in our neighborhood. Many individuals have been killed. Harmless folks had been killed. The capturing was an excessive amount of and the folks began leaving the neighborhood. About 19 folks have been killed.
“They had been attacking family of the folks they mentioned had been members of the gang that killed their members. It didn’t take time, the opposite group roo got here out. They began capturing themselves. Individuals from the 2 teams additionally died.
“We’re calling on the federal government to come back to our assist. These cults try to scatter the folks we’ve got on this neighborhood. We wish the Police and Military to assist us.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the conflict was linked to levies from an oil firm within the space, saying the variety of casualty was 10.
Iringe-Koko mentioned: “It’s a cult conflict between loyalists of Bare Wire and Carol. They’re preventing over the management of levies from an oil firm operative within the space.
“About 10 persons are confirmed lifeless however no arrest but as investigation is ongoing.”
