From: Tony John, Port Harcourt
NO fewer than 16 persons were feared dead in cult war supremacy in Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Sunday Sun gathered that armed men on Friday night invaded Omuoda, Omuigwe, Omuahunwo and Omuchiolu communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area, where about 14 persons, including a nursing mother and baby were shot death. Sources from the Aluu town in Ikwerre Local Government and some of the affected communities said houses were razed by the armed invaders and people have fled the place for fear of reprisal attack.
According to sources, people now live in fear, as the supremacy cult battle between Icelanders and Degbam rages on.
Yesterday, security operatives were on red alert in readiness for any eventuality in Aluu communities. A community source, who did not want his name in print for fear of attack, confirmed that the clash was between Degbam and Iceland. In the ensuing encounter, he said, 14 people lost their lives, while some escaped with bullet wounds.
He said many people had deserted the community because of the threat of reprisal attack by the rival group.
In a related development, two other persons were also allegedly killed in a separate cult clash in Obite community in Etche Local Government Area of the state. A source, who witnessed the heavy shooting, said the cult group invaded the community at about 9 pm, destroyed and looted people’s property.
One of the deceased victims was said to have been shot dead as a result of mistaken identity, as the group took him for the chief security officer of the community.
At the time of filing the report, the state police command was yet to confirm the incident.