Cult war: 20 killed in Rivers
FROM CHRIS AGUNWEZE
A total number of 20 persons have
been brutally killed in the lingering cult war that has engulfed Omoku, the
headquarters of Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area and other neighboring
communities in Rivers State.
The cult clash which sparked off
last Monday in Omoku and later escalated to Obirikon, Ogwogoro Ali and Obie
communities, was between two rival cult groups called Degbam and Barbeach Group
said to be the armed wing of Islander.
Investigations showed that so far
about seven persons have been killed in Omoku, nine persons murdered in
Obirikon, two killed in Ogwogoro Ali and one killed and beheaded in Obie
communities all in ONELGA.
When contacted yesterday, the
Paramount Ruler of Obirikon, HRH Eze Christian Uzor Nkisa, confirmed the
killing of nine persons in Obirikon. According to him most regrettable were he
killing of four none indigenes, who the traditional father said were in Obrikon
doing legitimate businesses.
The monarch told Sunday Sun that
the clash escalated to Obirikon, when a member of a cult group came to
Obirikon to fight over a woman said to be engaged in a relationship with
another man who is a member of a rival cult group. The clash between the two
men brought in the two rival cult groups already at war in Omoku, According to
him that very day five men were killed. Obirikon is now said to be deserted.
In Omoku where the clash stated, the
youth president, Kingsley Nonye, popularly called Manor, who was said to have
made tireless efforts to make peace between the two cult groups told Sunday Sun
that no reason was good enough for any group to begin to justify the killings
even if the cult-members claim to be on revenge mission. He regretted that the
crisis was having devastating effect on commercial and social life of Omoku.
Manor called on the government to step up security in the area.
Meanwhile, the Police Public
Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Mohammed, confirmed the in
cident but said the situation had
been brought under control.
He further disclosed that the state
Commissioner of Police, Mr Musa Kimo had deployed two additional Mobile Police
units to the area, adding that the CP had initiated discussions with community
leaders as a way of finding lasting solution to cult clashes in the area.
[Sunnews]
Comments
Post a Comment