ONYEDI GABRIEL, Port Harcourt
Three persons have been killed following a bloody clash involving cultists at the old Port Harcourt township area of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Rivers State.
It was gathered that the violence had thrown residents of Bende, Victoria and Bagham streets into panic.
The two cult groups in the area were said to have engaged in a supremacy battle to gain control of the area.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said the war started around 8:00 pm on Wednesday, adding that one Dike, and Biggy were among the people feared killed.
The source said: “Yesterday, around 8pm, we heard gunshots. When we came out later at Bagham Junction we saw one person that was shot on the chest dead.
“I couldn’t identify him because it was dark. I also heard that one person called Biggy, was shot at Victoria Street and a business man called Dike was also shot. I don’t know if the business man died.
“The truth is that these guys come for their target. Some times we see them pass with guns. Some time it’s stray bullet that pick some persons.
“Our concern is that security should be proactive. They pay attention more to other issues than human lives.
The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, SP. Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the development noted that the number of casualties had yet to be ascertained.
Omoni disclosed that shooting was following a cult war, adding that police had restored calm in the area.
Omoni said: “I can confirm that there was cult clash yesterday at the town axis of Port Harcourt. Two rival cult groups engaged themselves in a senseless war of supremacy.
“On getting the distress call, we mobilised and we chased them and we were able to recover one of their pistol guns. The manhunt for the cultists still continues.
“So far we have no case of reported casualty. The Commissioner of Police has declared war against the criminals.”