From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Another two persons have been killed in the ongoing cult war between two factions of Deygbam a daredevil cult group in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The recent deaths which were recorded on Friday night brought the number of casualties in the ongoing cult war since last week Saturday to five.
On Saturday, April 15, 2023, two suspected cultists were shot dead by a rival gang in Elechi Beach area of Diobu, while the third victim was shot dead on Thursday, April 20, during a clash by the same rival factions. All the incidents occurred in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA) of Rivers State.
It was gathered that gunmen suspected to be a faction of Deygbam cult group, which has been involved in a battle for territorial control at Elechi Beach, Mile 1, Diobu invaded Sangana/Rail line axis on Friday, in search of their rivals, shooting sporadically, and killing two persons.
The source disclosed that the bodies were evacuated by the killers.
The incident, Sunday Sun gathered, caused pandemonium, forcing the traders and residents within the neighbourhood to flee the scene as the shooting escalated.
It would be recalled that the suspected BS and D12 factions of Deygbam cult group had engaged themselves in battle for territorial control since last Saturday.
The cult war had gradually spread to other parts of Diobu with the killing of another hit man known as ‘Asari’ at Ekwe/Ikwerre Road, Mile 3, Diobu, on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Police Command said it had not received any official complaint of shooting and killing of two persons at Sangana/Railway axis in Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
The state Police Public Relations (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, in an interview disclosed that the Divisional Police Headquarters in the area had not received any report of shootings or killings.