7 killed, many injured in Delta cult clash

Seven persons were reportedly killed in cult war within the past three days between rival cult groups in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State.

Sources said the rival groups were members of the Black Axe versus the Bucaneers confraternities.

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A victim of the cult onslaught recounted that the renewed cult war started last Thursday at Afiesere community, where a young man simply identified as Nyerhovwo AKA C.O was attacked and his head smashed with a battle axe, which eyewitnesses had described as a robbery attack by a three-man gang.

The death of the victim said to be a member of ‘Aye’ confraternity allegedly led to a reprisal against ‘Baga’ group, which sparked off an orgy of clashes between the two dreaded cult groups leading to the death of six others with many sustaining life threatening injuries.

It was further gathered that one of the strongman of Aro Baga was murdered along Akpodiete street, while two other victims suspected to be Aye boys were allegedly killed in Ekiugbo and another one killed at Oghenevweta street. Two other victims were shot on Sunday at Ekuigbo. One of them confirmed dead while the second person was rushed to a private hospital where he is currently receiving medical attention.

Though efforts to speak with the state police public relations officer, Onome Onowakpoyeya, were fruitless, a security source from the ‘A’ division police station, Ughelli, while confirming the incident, said as a result of the incident, a total of five other persons had been killed.

Our source further revealed that two brothers suspected to be cult members were attacked and killed in their house close to Ataverhe Junction in Ekiugbo-Ughelli, Delta State.

Our reporter, who visited the scene, took pictures of the suspected cultists, who were also inflicted with severe matchet cue on the head and neck.