Cult Clash Claims Four Lives In Asaba

–As Delta SARS Arrests Notorious Armed Robbers, Recover Stolen Vehicles In Their Possession

By Dafe Rukevwe

Cult clashes between the Aiye and Vikings confraternities in the past week have claimed not less than four lives in Asaba, Delta State Capital.

Delta State Police Command made this disclosure in a press statement, adding that three confessed cultists connected to the killings are in the custody of SARS operatives aiding in an ongoing investigation into the matter.

A press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said that on the 7th of May, 2019, a shooting incident was reported at Cable area of Asaba as a result of the face-off between two rival cult groups, the Aiye confraternity and Vikings.

According to the release, the police patrol team on arrival at the scene found a young man already shot on the right eye lying in a pool of his own blood and was quickly convened to Federal Medical Centre Asaba for medical attention but died the following day while receiving treatment.

Police information also showed that a corpse was found on the ground with knife stab on the left rib, some metres away from the scene of earlier shooting and has been deposited at FMC, Mortuary.

The deceased was later identified as Chijine Chigbata, aged 54 and a security guard with a private firm in Asaba.

The continued face-off between the two rival cults, the PPRO said claimed two more lives of suspected cult members.

The victims, one Jude Nwakama male and Okwudili Ozah were attacked with battle axe and knife at different locations in Akuofu and Oduke area of Asaba.

Meanwhile, one Samuel Okwuonyekwu, a confessed member of Aiye confraternity and two others have been arrested by SARS Operatives in connection with the crises.

One locally made double barrel short gun was recovered from one of the arrested suspects.

Investigation is still on-going to crackdown on other fleeing suspects, while patrol and surveillance have been intensified within the metro to forestall further attacks.

The CP in his effort to nip violence crimes in the bud have held various meetings with stakeholders, especially, the volunteer anti-cult groups, vigilante groups, strengthened the conventional stop and search, create tactical operation point and aggressive patrol, as all these are said to have yielded positive results.

The CP has also warned that there is no safe haven for criminals in the State, saying that it is either they quit crime or relocate from the State, while assuring members of the public of his commitment to their safety at all times.

In a related development, Delta SARS has arrested some notorious armed robbers, and recovered one locally made single barrel gun, nine live cartridges with twenty rounds of live ammunition and seven exotic stolen vehicles.

A press statement by the PPRO showed that on the 23rd of February, 2019, Famous Faghola of No. 24 Akah Avenue was attacked and his Lexus 250 car snatched at gun point by armed robbers at Effurun axis of Warri.

According to her, the case was transferred to SARS without suspects and after a long period of manhunt for the suspects by SARS operatives, on the 7th of May, 2019, they were able to track down and arrest the gang leader and one other.

The two arrested suspects have confessed to the crime and many other robberies and car snatching crime within Warri and Abraka areas.

One locally made single barrel gun, nine live cartridges with twenty rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

Similarly, the complainant’s stolen Lexus 250 car with six other exotic vehicles and a Keke Napep stolen from different locations within the State have also been recovered.

Vehicles recovered include a M/Benz 450 4 Matic Jeep, a Lexus 330 Jeep, one Lexus 300 Jeep, one Sienna Bus and a Toyota Camry car.

Others are a Toyota Corolla car and a Keke Napep.

Investigation is still on-going with a view to arresting other fleeing members of the gang still at large and recovering of more stolen vehicles already sold out by the suspects outside the State.