Five people were killed between two cult groups in the Ahoada Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.
According to a statement released on Sunday by the Rivers State Police Command spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, the conflict appears to be a struggle for dominance between the Icelanders and Greenlanders factions.
She stated that the incident occurred around 7:30 am and named two of the dead as Chukwujeku Kingsley, 36, and Chibuike ThankGod, 23.
The statement also said that the identities of the remaining three were unknown. The police reported that while an investigation into the event is ongoing, tactical patrol teams have been mobilised to the area to restore normalcy.
It was reported that the competing cult groups engaged in combat close to an IDP camp in Ahoada Town, the administrative centre of Rivers State’s Ahoada-East Local Government Area. One of the four LGAs affected by the state’s current flooding is Ahoada.
The worsening wave of cult-related killings in South-South Nigeria makes it a critical challenge in the region. Recall, in May this year, three persons were reportedly shot dead in Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State in a cult clash.
The cultists, suspected to be Icelanders confraternity members invaded the Mgbuesa Village in Ibaa, killing the victims who were alleged to be members of Deygbam, a rival cult group.