Four feared killed as cult gangs clash in Rivers

Four persons have been feared killed and several homes torched following a clash between two rival cult gangs in Etche Local Council of Rivers State.

It was learnt yesterday that the crisis began on Sunday when a member of the Degbam gang reportedly shot a rival Deywel cult member at Okehi, the headquarters of the council area.

A community source, who craved anonymity, disclosed that three other persons were killed when the group, whose member was killed on Sunday, went on rampage for retaliation.

The source said that three of the other victims were killed in the early hours of yesterday in Ulakwo, Igbodo and Mba communities of the local government area.

The eyewitness added that several houses were set on fire while residents fled their homes.

He said: “Members of the Degbam group killed a member of the Deywell gang on Sunday night and this morning (Monday), another one person was killed in Ulakwo, and one each at Igbodo and Mba communities.

“Some houses have also been burnt down in Okehi, while residents have fled for fear of being killed by the rampaging cult groups.”

But the Rivers State Police Command, while confirming the incidents, said that it was not aware that anybody was killed in the cult war.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said: “ I can confirm the cult war but am not aware if anybody was killed.”

He stated that tactical teams had been deployed in the area by the Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, adding that the situation had been arrested.

Omoni noted that no suspect had been arrested in connection with the mayhem, stating that the cultists fled on sighting the deployed peacekeepers.