[News] One shot dead as cult war rages in Rivers community

Another person has been shot dead as the recent clash among rival cult groups in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, River State continued on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

 

The latest victim, popularly known as Asari, said to be in his twenties, was killed at about 7:55 pm along Ekwe/Ikwerre road, Mile 3 Diobu in the metropolis.

 

Eyewitnesses told Punch that said ‘Asari’ was standing with some persons when about five armed men came out from a car, rained bullets on him and zoomed off.

 

Sources in the area on Thursday said that the killing was said to be a supremacy war between two suspected factions of ‘D12 and Blackies’ cult gangs.

 

“They were recently engaged in a shoot out at Elechi beach in Mile 1 Diobu, Port Harcourt last Tuesday which claimed two lives. Now the war has spread to Mile 3,”

 

It was gathered that the shooting caused pandemonium, as passersby, road users and commuters scampered to safety while roadside traders within the scene hurriedly closed business for the day.

 

Speaking of the incident, a vigilante and Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo in Mile 3 Diobu, Godstime Ihunwo, confirmed the identity of the victim.

 

He disclosed that persons believed to be members of the victim’s cult gang carted away his corpse before his team and policemen returned to the scene.

 

“At about 8 pm on Wednesday, we heard two gunshots at IKwerre road /Ekwe Street opposite Bishop Okoye Street and quickly rushed down to the scene,” he said.

 

“On reaching there, we saw a young man known and called ‘Asari’ laying dead and immediately we approached the Nkpolu Police station to tender our report.

 

“As we and the police were coming back to inspect the corpse, we got a report that some unknown gunmen drove with one Jetta and one Mazda and made away with the corpse.”