A clash between two rival cults has claimed five lives on Abuja Estate, in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The clash, which occurred on Saturday, was reportedly between the Icelanders and Greenlanders’ cults.
Although the immediate cause of the clash had yet to be ascertained, residents said there was shooting for over two hours as people scampered for safety.
An eyewitness said the two gangs had been engaged in a supremacy battle and territorial control for a long time.
The eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said, “What I know is that the Icelanders and Greenlanders have been challenging each other. It is not surprising that they clash every time. The shooting yesterday (Saturday) was much. It lasted for over two hours.
“Nobody knows what really happened; this morning (Sunday) there were dead bodies on the floor.”
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.
Iringe-Koko also confirmed that it was a supremacy battle, adding that policemen had been deployed in the area.
She said, “In what appeared to be a fight for supremacy, five persons were reportedly killed.
“The names of the deceased persons include Chukwuemeka Kingsley, 36, and Chibuike Thankgod, 28. Three other copses have yet to be identified.
“Meanwhile, tactical patrol teams have been mobilised to the area to restore normalcy and investigation into the incident is in progress.”
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