3 killed in renewed Ikwerre cult war

Three persons have been shot dead in renewed supremacy battle between Degban and Dewell cult gangs in Omuawa community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The supremacy clash which resumed Sunday night also resulted to the arrest of five suspected cultists by the Rivers State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Jonah Nnnana, a resident who recounted the gun battle said: “It was bloody. The fight was started at about 6:30pm by members of Degban cult said to be avenging the death of their members killed in earlier battle with the Dewell cult in a neighbouring community not long ago.”

He said innocent residents caught in the fierce shooting also sustained various degrees of gunshots injury as most people deserted the village to neighbouring communities for safety.

Mr. Welendu Obilor, member of the local vigilance group in the area said people had to make distress calls to SARS whose swift response helped to calm the situations.

He said: “SARS intervention resulted in the arrest of five suspected cultists. We are calling on the police to concentrate investigation in the locality and see to the arrest of the kingpins to forestall further insecurity of lives and property of the innocent in our community.”

-- Vanguard