Fear Grips Eku Community Over Rampage By Alleged Cultists

…Sends SOS To Delta State Govt.

There was tension in Eku as youths alleged to be cultists numbering over 100 went on rampage at wee hours of Sunday evening, attacked Eku Police station, vandalized property’s and freed some inmates.
They also went round the Eku community town with cutlasses, battle axe, broken bottles and weapons that looked like guns, robbing people of their phones, neck chains, cash and other valuables against their wish.
The alleged cultists also went about vandalizing vehicles and attacking innocent passers by on sight before going to the entrance of Baptist Government Hospital, Eku, to prevent medical officials to prevent them from giving medical attention to casualties while the attack on the police station and community lasted.
Our correspondent gathered that, the cultists, who were dressed in black clothing stormed the police station around 9: 30 pm as part of their rescue mission to free some members of their gang who were allegedly arrested by the police.
The Pointer reports that, on securing the freedom of their gang members, the thugs who are between the ages of 15-22 years stormed the streets in Eku armed with cutlasses, battle axe and other dangerous weapons before carrying out their plans.
Another version of the story, however indicated that the mayhem began around 10 pm at Eku junction at a bar belonging to a female twin before escalating into the town.
An eye witness, who craved anonymity for fear of being victimized, stated: ” At about 10 pm, a young man in polo t-shirt and jeans trousers drove his car into a disorderly group of people around a bar belonging to female twin sisters, almost knocking some persons to the ground.
“This development did not augur well with some of the persons almost hit, which eventually led to confrontation. Three men were inside the car, so; they came down from the car and an altercation ensued between both parties, leading to a brawl with the use of bottles and other weapons.
“At about 11.30pm, over 100 persons mainly youths between the ages of 12 to 22yrs armed with cutlasses, battle axe and items believed to be guns took to the streets of Eku, robbing and attacking anybody on sight.
“Scores of persons lost their valuables to this criminal gang, while many sustained various degrees of injuries.”
Speaking in the same vein, a woman, who craved anonymity, said: “I was with my small baby, when I noticed the crowd, I entered the dark, they moved past me and intercepted a young man and his girlfriend, they collected their phones and money, the man pleaded with them not to kill him, but one of the thugs still used an axe to cut his left hand.
“At the middle of the town, it was gun shoot out all through the night, no one can ascertain if anybody was killed.”
A top community source, said the perpetrators of the crime belong to two cult groups (names witheld) who have been disturbing the community since 2016.
The source claimed that the community’s leadership was not willing to do anything to address the situation because most of their children are members of the dreaded cult groups in the area.
Another source claimed that the cult group gathered at the compound of a yahoo boy along Oko-echi road Eku, who was a formal leader of the cult group, before proceeding to the streets of Eku.
The indigenes called called on Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa and the state Commissioner for Police to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the situation to avoid a recurrence.
They argued that for thugs to attack the police station to free inmates and till date no arrest has been made showed that their lives were no longer secured.