Cult war: 20 killed in Rivers

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 incident 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.