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Tag: Cult clash

  • Six feared killed in cult clash in Ogun

    Six people were yesterday feared killed in a cult clash involving suspected members of the Aiye Confraternity and a rival cult, the Eiye Confraternity.

    The Nation learnt that the cults lost six persons – three on each side, in a reprisal, which occurred at Tosukun, Sagamu.

    But Police Commissioner Bashir Makama told reporters that the case was a fresh one, stressing that one person was killed and that the remains had been deposited in a mortuary.

    Makama, who has just replaced former Commissioner of Police Ahmed Iliyasu, said when details of what happened emerged, the information would be communicated to reporters.

    Read also: Supremacy of Agemo cult

    He stated that a police inspector, Sunday Ogundapo, who was said to be missing, but actually escaped from hoodlums during the Ifo mayhem on Sunday, had reappeared with injuries inflicted on him by his assailants.

    Makama said two other officers who conducted themselves unprofessionally in connection with the Ifo incident, had been identified and kept in police custody.

    The police boss, who spoke while parading over 75 suspects, including 17 robbery suspects, kidnappers and cultists at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, said the sale of human parts was one of the challenges the command was facing.

    He said he could not understand why people indulged in such heinous act, adding that the command had deployed tactical measures to arrest the situation.

  • Houses, cars razed in Delta community cult clash

    Houses and vehicles belonging to the Orhuwhorhun Community vigilance group in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State were razed following Monday’s cult clash.

    The Nation learnt that the vigilance group was on routine patrol when the suspected cultists struck.

    According to reports, residents were injured and robbed off their possessions, while some others fled.

    Commissioner of Police Adeyinka Adeleke said the clash resulted from the vigilantes’ involvement in politics. He said nobody died.

    Police spokesman Orisewejie Chuks, who also confirmed the report, said the suspected cultists burnt the vigilance group’s vehicle.

    He said: “The situation has been brought under control. Houses were burnt in the rival cult clash. The police are working to nip the situation in the bud.”

  • 10 feared killed in cult clash

    Ten people have been feared killed in Lessel town, the headquarters of Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State, following attacks by suspected cultists.

    A resident, James Tor, told The Nation on the phone that some suspected cultists, who came to the town for initiation on a motorcycle, refused to pay the okada rider.

    It was gathered that when the commercial motorcyclist demanded his money, he was hacked to death.

    Other okada riders reportedly mobilised themselves and allegedly killed cultists in the town.

    Read also: Fire guts house at Oshodi

    Speaking with The Nation on the phone, a member of the community, Peter Akera, said two suspected cultists from the College of Education, Katsina Ala, came for a reprisal and lodged in a hotel in Lessel.

    He said it was after the suspected cultists killed some youths that the residents mobilised and killed about eight suspected cultists, bringing the number of those killed to 10.

    Attempt to speak with police spokesman Moses Yamu was not successful, as he neither answered his calls nor returned text messages.

    Last night, policemen patrolled the town.

     

  • Three killed in Delta community’s cult clash

    THREE persons have been confirmed killed in the Ovwian/Aladja Express Junction, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State,  in a cultists clash.

    Besides the killings and threat to the lives of the residents and those who pass through the busy area, on the outskirts of Warri, economic and other activities have been paralysed, following the cult war.

    The Nation gathered that trouble started on Monday when some gunmen killed a man said to be a notorious cultist who had been on police wanted list for alleged murder, Godwin Uwe.

    Residents and those doing business in the area had assumed the fight was among members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) but it became clear when the shooting became more intense.

    A resident, who gave his name simply as Bernard, said the fight was about leadership tussle among those operating the Ovwian Motor Park.

    He said: “They dropped (killed) one person yesterday (Monday); they have dropped almost two today. It’s all these agbero (louts). I think they said they are fighting over positions. The place has been a no-go area since.

    “The police have taken over the area. I believe it’s their Ovwian agbero problem.

    “The area has been locked up by security agents. So, nobody can open shop there today. “When I passed there this afternoon, they have packed the bodies from the place.”

    Also, police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “So far, we have three people down. I am not aware of any wounded. As at yesterday, somebody died and two others were killed today. It’s cult-related; it’s between Viking and Arrowbagers.

    “Even the person killed yesterday (Monday), Godwin Uwe, has been on a list of persons wanted in connection with cases of murder. He’s one of the kingpins of a cult group; he’s been in hiding for a while. It looked like the other group got him.

    “As we speak, there’s calm in the area and in the division. Nobody has come to identify the two persons who were killed today.

    “What we discovered is that these groups strike and retreat. In other words, cult members from the area employ the services of those from outside to do their fight, after which they disappear.”

    Asked if the fight had any link with the NURTW in the area, Aniamaka said: “We’ll investigate to know if such rivalry culminated into cult clashes.”

  • Man killed in cult clash

    A deadly clash by two rival cult groups has resulted to the death of an unidentified man at Alapere in Ketu, near Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the incident took place at Modupe Street, off Kazeem Street in Alapere late on June 17.

    A resident of the area, who claimed to have witnessed the fight told NAN that the cultists came from a nearby street, describing the area as a hotbed of cultist activities.

    NAN learnt that the Alapere cult war has been on for more than three years, resulting to the death of no fewer than eight people within the period.

    The source, who pleaded not to be identified, named the rival cults as members of Eiye and Aye confraternity.

    “These cultists are always at war with each other, shooting guns at night all the time.

    “Kazeem, Aminu and Akampson Streets near the transformer at Alapere are notorious for cult activities,” the source said.

    Police spokesman Chike Oti, said the victim was stabbed to death.

    Oti said that the identity of the dead man was not yet known.

    He said, however, that the body had been removed by policemen from the Alapere Division and deposited at a mortuary.

    The spokesman said that no arrest had been made on the development.

  • Two killed in deadly Ebonyi rival cult clash

    At least two persons have been killed in deadly clash between rival cult groups in Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State.

    While one person, Anselem Ifeanyi Omah was killed on Tuesday evening, a second victim whose name was simply given as Paul was gunned down Wednesday night.

    Also in the aftermath of the shooting, at least 8 persons have been arrested in connection with the death of Anselem.

    Confirming the incident, Chairman of the Council, Clement Odah said the killing of Anselem is regretable as the area since he came into office have been relatively peaceful.

    Mr Odah who briefed journalists on Wednesday evening on the killing of Anselem before last night’s shooting of the second victim charged security agents to arrest and prosecute all those involved in the murder.

    “The subject matter of this press conference is because of the current diversion from the new Ohaukwu local government area. When we came in, we were confronted by two kinds of insecurity. One, is the external insecurity, that was the war between Ngbo in Ohaukwu local government area and Agila in Benue state”.

    “That one, to the glory of God has been settled once and for all by the coordinated efforts of the Governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. David Umahi through the inter-boundary committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe”, said the Chairman.

    “For more than two years now, we have not had any other problem from that axis and we have been enjoying peace. Second, is internal insecurity from some misguided youths who were deceived over time to believe there is something good in belonging to illegal societies”.

    “There are many of them but the most prominent is the bad society that is being chun out by our universities, that is cultism. I launched a decisive war against cultism from the first day I came in as the council chairman. It was difficult but by the Grace of God we succeeded”, he added.

    Read Also: Mantu and culture of impunity

    The Chairman described the slain Anselem as a peaceful young man and blamed cultists in the area for his death.

    “Before yesterday, I had boasted in many fora that we have won the war against cultism and that was true because I refused to compromise. We have made it known that we have zero tolerance for cultism. So, for me, it was a shock when we heard around 10 to 11 that one of our sons was gunned down here in Ezzamgbo, his name is Anselem Ifeany Omah”.

    “It was a very big surprise and shock. But we swung into action immediately alerting and contacting security agents from the Divisional Police Officer and all other security agents including the neighborhood watch and the local vigilantes. While we bear the pain of that avoidable loss, we have certain consolation. That is to the fact that we made it clear to the security agents that this is one crime that must be investigated”.

    “We made it clear to security agents that we are not ready to mortgage the peace we enjoyed over two years now for anything. We made it clear that the Government of Engr. David Umahi is anchored on the platform of peace and we do not want to tolerate any other situation than absolute peace”.

    “All the culprits who are involved in that crime, over 50% of them have been arrested. As at the last count, 8 persons are in the police custody. I want to commend the DPO of Ohaukwu police division. The operation started immediately and in less than 10 hours, majority of the culprits were arrested. While their arrest were effected, a lot of illegal firearms with which these criminals operated with were recovered”.

    Mr Odah said all the suspects have been transferred to the State Headquarters Abakaliki.

    “All the culprits are now cooling off in the state headquarters. The matter is being handled currently in the Criminal Investigation Department,CID, and we will follow it up to ensure that the culprits are brought to book”, he said.

    Police spokesman in the state, Loveth Odah confirmed the story and the transfer of the suspects.

    She however promised to brief the media later on the incident.

  • Four killed in Rivers cult clash

    Four persons were feared dead yesterday in Alode community, Eleme Local Government Area and Asarama community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Three were killed in Alode.  It was attributed to a reprisal attack.

    The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Andoni , Allen Jonah, confirmed the attack,  saying gunmen invaded the community in the early hours of Tuesday.

    Jonah said: “I woke up in the morning to be informed that gunmen invaded Asarama community. They came into the community in the early hours of yesterday and shot sporadically, thereby killing one person on the spot.

    “When I heard about the incident, I immediately contacted the Area Commander in Andoni and they swung into action. I want our people to remain calm. We are on top of the situation.”

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),  Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP),  said: “The incident at Alode Eleme was purely a cult clash and it has nothing to do with police or any security agent. A rival cult group had embarked on a reprisal before the clash.”

  • Two die in Lagos cult clash

    Two die in Lagos cult clash

    Two persons, Solomon Oniosun and Idowu Ibrahim, were yesterday arrested in a cult clash at Olayiwola in Oworonshoki, a Lagos community.

    Two persons were feared killed in the clash.

    The Oworonshoki cult war has being raging since April, with six persons reportedly killed.

    Although the names of the deceased were unknown, the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said their bodies have been deposited in a mortuary.

    According to some residents, the police in the area did not come to prevent the killing and only showed up to evacuate the bodies.

    Famous-Cole said hoodlums disturbing the peace of the area engaged themselves in a free for all, adding that two police teams were deployed to the area.

    Two robbery suspects who organised an commercial bus operators were yesterday arrested in Isheri.

    Famous-Cole said they were dispossessing road users of their valuables, when they were intercepted on Otedola Bridge.

    He said the suspects rode in a Vanagon bus marked EKY452XJ, adding that they were chased through Alausa and N125,000, two mobile phones recovered.

    Famous-Cole said other members of the gang were at large, adding that the arrested suspects would be charged to court.

  • Four die in Kwara cult clash

    Four persons have died in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, in a cult clash, it was learnt yesterday.

    The fight was said to have occurred on Monday night in Gaa-Akanbi when suspected rival cult members murdered a boy in his 20s.

    The violence, it was gathered, spread to Ipata Market and Kankatu on Tuesday, where two others were killed.

    The body of the boy, who was said to have hailed from Osoogun compound, was dumped beside Amule Bridge.

    It was gathered that the police evacuated the body and dumped it at an undisclosed morgue.

    Another person in his 30s was also killed at Odoota yesterday by men suspected to be cultists.

    The cultists were said to have struck between 10 and 11 am, killing the victim who was preparing for work.

    Police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the Gaa-Akanbi incident but said he was yet to get information about the others.

    “I can confirm to you that the Gaa-Akanbi incident was a rival cult clash,” he added.

  • 10 die from cult clash in Rivers

    10 die from cult clash in Rivers

    The supremacy battle among cult groups in Omuchim, Omuakiri in Ikwerre and Obite communities in Etche Local government area of Rivers State at the weekend has left 10 persons dead.

    An eyewitness confided in our correspondent said there was heavy shooting by the cult group who invaded the community at 9pm, leaving sorrows, tears and blood in their wake

    According to the source, the victim who was shot at Obite was mistaken for the chief security officer of the community when they arrived the Security Chief‘s compound.

    “What happened is that they invaded the community by 9pm while they were shooting, looting every viable item they see.

    “They entered the compound of the chief security with the intension to kill him but unfortunately the person they met was the victim, who is an In-law to the man they were looking for,” the source said.

    When The Nation visited Aluu communities where 10 people were reportedly killed, the neighbourhood had been deserted by everybody for fear of reprisal attacks.

    One of the community leaders, who spoke with our correspondent over the phone under condition of anonymity, said the clash involving the Degbam and Iceland resulted to the death of eight people and some who escaped with bullets wounds.

    “If you say you are going to come to my place, it is risky. I will advise let talk on phone. At the moment the people are running away and nobody know who is who.

    “The cult boys entered the community by 8am and started shooting the people they described as their enemies.

    “The Iceland boys are the one that shot the Degbam boys but the fear now is that the Degbam cult group has dropped a letter to the community asking everybody to flee that they are going to revenge tonight.”

    Rivers State Police spokesman, Mohammad Ahmad, a Deputy Superintended of Police (DSP) said he will get back to the reporter on the issue.

    He was yet to get back as at the time of filing this reporter.