On Wednesday night, one person was killed during the ongoing conflict between rival cult groups in Port Harcourt’s Diobu axis.
The most recent fatality, a man in his twenties by the name of Asari, was killed at around 7:55 p.m. along the city’s Mile 3 Diobu on the Ekwe/Ikwerre route.
‘Asari’ was reportedly standing next to a group of people when five armed men emerged from a car, opened fire on him, and then sped off, according to eyewitnesses.
Sources said that the killing was allegedly the result of a conflict for supremacy between two cult gangs known as “D12 and Blackies” that were suspected of being involved.
Eyewitnesses stated that the cult groups have affiliations.
“The Deygbam cult groups (History and Black Axe Houses) that are affiliated to the D12 and BS houses of Deygbam cult groups respectively
“They were recently engaged in a shoot out at Elechi beach in Mile 1 Diobu PortHarcourt last Tuesday which claimed two lives. Now the war has spread to Mile 3,” the source said.
According to reports, the gunfire caused chaos as bystanders, drivers, and commuters scurried to safety while roadside vendors nearby hastily closed business for the day.
Speaking about the incident, Godstime Ihunwo, a vigilante and the chief security officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo in Mile 3 Diobu, confirmed the victim’s name.
He revealed that before his team and the police arrived on the scene, individuals thought to be members of the victim’s cult group took away the victim’s body.
Ihunwo stated, “At about 8 pm on Wednesday, we heard two gunshots at IKwerre road /Ekwe Street opposite Bishop Okoye Street and quickly rushed down to the scene.
“On reaching there, we saw a young man known and called ‘Asari’ laying dead and immediately we approached the Nkpolu Police station to tender our report.
“As we and the police were coming back to inspect the corpse, we got a report that some unknown gunmen drove with one Jetta and one Mazda and made away with the corpse.”
When contacted, Grace Iringe-Koko, a spokesperson for the state police command, said she was aware of the event but had not yet received an official briefing.
“I will get back to you as soon as I receive the situation report this morning,” Iringe-Koko said.
