Four killed, houses burnt in Kogi cult clash
[FILES] Kogi<br />PHOTO: Kogi State
Police arrested 15 people, claims one death
No fewer than four people were allegedly killed, while five houses were razed down following a clash between two rival cult groups in Kabawa, a native area of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The Guardian gathered that the crisis started on Monday night as two rival groups between the age of 13,14, and 15, engaged themselves in a free-for-all, which led to the killing and burning of houses in Kabawa.
The incident saw families fleeing the area to more secured places.
A source said the crisis was a result of reprisal attacks by another group following the killing of one of their members.
According to the sources, the cultists, who were armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, invaded some houses, attacked people and burned houses believed to belong to a rival group.
However, when the police stormed the area on Tuesday, some of the cultists engaged the security agents in a gun battle, which lasted for several hours before they were overpowered.
Some members of the cultists jumped into the river Niger to avoid being arrested and then crossed to the other side of the riverbank.
MEANWHILE, Kogi State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police (SP) William Aya, who confirmed the incident, said 15 suspects have been arrested.
He also confirmed the death of one person, stressing that an investigation is still going on.
The state government has said that it will take decisive actions against whoever is involved in the crisis.
Also, the state Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd) has warned cultists and other miscreants formenting trouble in Lokoja to be ready as the State government has vowed not to allow anybody rubbish its successes in the area of security.
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