CITIZENS COMPASS— The leader of a notorious cult group on Monday, reportedly died in Edo State following a violent clash within the Vikings Confraternity.
It was gathered that the clash was allegedly instigated by rival factions along the Benin–Agbor Road though the identity of the cult leader had not been confirmed as of press time.
Eye witnesses’ accounts said the cultist leader was killed in what could be described as a bloody overthrow.
A source, who craved anonymity, disclosed that the group had been thrown into crisis following its last national election, during which a candidate was allegedly imposed.
The attackers may have intended to remove the leader without bloodshed, but once gunshots are fired, anything can happen,” the source said.
When contacted for confirmation, the Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said she had yet to be briefed on the incident.
In a related development, no fewer than two persons were reportedly killed on Monday following a clash between rival gangs in Ngo and Unyengala communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The clash reportedly occurred in the morning between suspected members of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, and the Iceland cult.
It was gathered that the battle for supremacy which began on Sunday, extended till Monday.
Narrating the supremacy fight, a source in the neighborhood said, “It started on Sunday evening when I heard shooting in Ngo and Unyengala, and people were running to save their heads.
“They said it was Iceland and MEND. Many of us ran away, but it was later that we found out that two people were shot dead,” one of the sources who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue said.
Contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to our reporter on Monday afternoon.
Iringe-Koko said an investigation was ongoing.
Yes, I can confirm the incident. Two people were killed, and another person was critically injured. It is linked to a supremacy battle between two rival cult groups in the area.
“Security has been beefed up, and calm has returned to the area. Investigation is ongoing to ensure the culprits are identified and apprehended,” said the spokesperson.
