On Sunday, a renewed cult clash in Obelle Community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, resulted in at least 19 fatalities. The violence has caused widespread panic, leading residents to flee the area for safety.
On Wednesday, unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cult members, attacked Obelle Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, resulting in seven fatalities. While the community was still mourning, two rival cult groups resumed their battle for supremacy on Sunday morning, after more than two years of inactivity.
After the Wednesday killings, the group whose members were killed on Sunday retaliated by invading Obelle Community and attacking the relatives of individuals believed to be affiliated with the cult group responsible for the earlier deaths.
Kingsley, a local source, claimed that the rival group had already arrived while the faction that lost members on Wednesday was still active.
Kingsley said, “On Sunday, cultists clashed in our community. Many people have been killed. Innocent people were killed. The shooting was too much and the people started leaving the community. About 19 people have been killed.
“On Sunday morning, some cultists came out and started shooting. They were attacking relatives of the people they said were members of the gang that killed their members. It did not take time, the other group came out. They started shooting themselves. People from the two groups also died.
“We are calling on the government to come to our aid. These cults are trying to scatter the people we have in this community. We want the police and army to help us.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the clash was linked to levies from an oil company in the area, saying the number of casualty was 10.
She stated, “It is a cult clash between loyalists of Naked Wire and Carol. They are fighting over the control of levies from an oil company operative in the area.
“About 10 confirmed dead. No arrest yet, but investigation is ongoing.”
