Nine persons were shot dead by gunmen suspected to be cultists in Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State, on valentine day, February 14.
Community sources disclosed that two factions of Greenland cult group loyal to two notable personalities in the area exchanged gunfire in Ikata community for over 30 minutes which led to death of nine persons.
One of the sources, who gave his name as Junior, said it was a leadership tussle rocking the Greenland cult group in the area.
He stated that the incident caused panic in the community, as residents scampered for safety and business owners hurriedly closed their shops and stores to a avoid being caught by stray bullets.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Effiong Okon, has deployed tactical teams to Ikata, Upata and its environs in Ahoada East LGA, following cult war.
State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police (SP), has confirmed the incident to the media.
She disclosed that it was a cult clash between two rival groups which claimed nine lives.
Iringe-Koko further said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada Police Division and Joint Task Force had visited the area for on-the-spot assessment of crime scene.
According to her, the security personnel had destroyed the camp of the cultists.
The PPRO added that investigation has commenced ongoing with a view to arresting fleeing members of the gang and ascertaining the cause of the mayhem.
