Residents of Obelle Community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, have called on the Nigerian Army to come to their rescue following the incessant cult clashes in the community.
A violent clash between rival cult groups left at least 19 people dead in the Community yesterday.
The renewed violence erupted on Sunday morning between the Deybam and Icelanders cult groups, ending a two-year truce.
According to sources, the attack was a retaliation for a previous assault last Wednesday, where gunmen believed to be cult members killed seven people.
A resident, Kingsley, described the chaos: “The shooting was intense, and many innocent people were caught in the crossfire. We have lost about 19 people. The community is now deserted.”
The latest round of killings reportedly began when one group targeted the relatives of those believed to have orchestrated Wednesday’s attack.
However, their rivals soon launched a counteroffensive, leading to an all-out battle.
Confirming the incident, Rivers State Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko told Punch Newspaper that the conflict stemmed from a dispute over levies from an oil company in the area.
“About 10 people have been confirmed dead. No arrests have been made, but investigations are ongoing,” she said.
Residents are calling for urgent intervention from security forces to restore peace to the troubled community.