At least 19 people have reportedly been killed in a violent cult clash in Obelle Community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The renewed hostilities, which erupted on Sunday, have forced residents to flee the area for safety.
The incident follows an earlier attack on Wednesday when unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, invaded the community and killed seven people.
Before the community could recover from the shock, rival cult groups resumed their fight for dominance on Sunday morning, ending a two-year period of relative peace.
Reports indicate that the latest clash involved members of the Deybam and Icelanders cult groups.
A local source, identified simply as Kingsley, revealed that after Wednesday’s attack, the affected group retaliated by storming the community and targeting the families of those believed to be responsible for the previous killings.
“On Sunday, there was heavy shooting in our community. Many innocent people lost their lives. The fighting started when one group began attacking relatives of those they accused of being part of the earlier attack. Soon after, their rivals retaliated, leading to even more bloodshed. So far, about 19 people have been killed. Residents are fleeing because of fear,” Kingsley said.
He called on the government and security agencies to intervene, warning that continued violence could devastate the community.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, attributed the clash to a dispute over levies collected from an oil company operating in the area.
She, however, stated that the confirmed death toll stood at 10.
“It is a clash between the loyalists of Naked Wire and Carol, fighting for control over levies from an oil company in the area. So far, 10 deaths have been confirmed. No arrests have been made yet, but investigations are ongoing,” she said.
READ ALSO:
- Woman seeks divorce as husband allegedly defecates, urinates on himself when drunk
- Man catches wife living with best friend, seeks compensation
- Woman wins divorce after husband sells family home, ignores her for seven years
- Man arrested over alleged killing of ex-girlfriend after breakup
- Car wash worker allegedly stabs colleague to death over money
