Ahead of 2015 general elections the various dreaded cult groups or organizations are now restrategizing so as to identify with politicians that will possibly need their heinous services to outwit political opponents.
The business of cultism booms especially during electioneering campaigns. In most cases cultists unleash mayhem on perceived political enemies of their masters.
The residents of Rivers and Bayelsa States are living in perpetual fears following the resurgence of fresh cult activities in two states.
The people of Oyorokoto village in the Andoni Local Government Area are now living in panic as cult activities resume in the area. Oyorokoto is the largest fishing community in the coast of West Africa sub-region.
The fishing community was engulfed in a military like attack last Friday when two opposing cult groups clashed over struggle for supremacy, killing over four (4) persons.
Those killed could not be identified by their names at the time of going to the press, but were reportedly indigenes of Ngo, Oronya and Agana respectively.
The source from Oyorokoto community could not ascertain the cult groups that carried out the attack but, maintained that there have been incessant attacks on the community, positing that residents are living in fear since straying bullets know no innocent beings, especially considering the nature of houses built in the community.
The people of the community however, swung into action investigating those behind the nonsense crime.
This was not the first time such activities occurred in the settlement in the community. According to The Newswriter source said the community is now battle ready to get to the root of the unfriendly menace, while appealing for assistance from the public.
In a related development, cult war erupted at the popular Okrika waterfront in the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area last week.
During the senseless cult clash, a welder simply identified as Daddy Brown was gunned down. The fight paralyzed both social and commercial activities at both Okrika waterfront (Ibiopu Polo) and Ogu waterfront (Yikabo Polo). The cause of the useless clash was not known, as at the time of filing in this report. The remains of welder have been deposited in an undisclosed mortuary in Port Harcourt.
However, there was another fresh cult war in Ogbakiri in the Emohua Local Government Area between two (2) dangerous rival cult groups namely: Degbam and Icelanders cults.
Two died in that cult activities and information reaching our crime desk had it that the both rival groups are now planning for reprisal attack. No fewer than 20, 000 persons have initiated in the various cult groups. Several initiation cult camps exist across the length and breadth of Rivers and Bayelsa State.
In similar vein, militants are regrouping in the creeks of the Niger Delta, especially in the mangrove forest of Bayelsa State, it was learnt on Monday.
There are supremacy battles and scrambling for operational territories among leaders of the emerging militant groups.
It was gathered that the scrambling triggered a bloody clash between two groups operating at the Gbarain area of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
A security source said members of the groups engaged in a fierce battle that lasted for many hours.
Assorted weapons, including AK47 rifles, were reportedly used freely in the ‘warfare’, which unsettled communities around the area.
Gunshots were said to have created panic among residents, who fled the area temporarily.
After the battle, three militants were reportedly killed by the rival camp.
“The leader of one of the camps is very notorious. He is known in the creeks but we are keeping his name under wraps. It was a fierce battle caused by sharing of territory.
“The notorious leader accused his counterpart of trespassing into his territory. The development led to the war. Three militants were killed. Many others were injured,” the source said.
He raised the alarm over massive movements of arms in the creeks.
“There are many arms with people here but we don’t know what they intend to do with them. We are still studying the reason behind the proliferation of arms. All is not well in the creeks”, he said.
Scores of gunmen last week laid siege to Zion community in the same local government.
The hoodlums, who came on speedboats, overran the community, shooting sporadically in a siege that lasted two days.
A chief was injured during the attack by the gunmen suspected have come from neighbouring Ekene community.
The gunmen barricaded the waterways and attacked two passenger commercial speed boats.
They carted away many valuables and dispossessed the passengers of about N1million in cash.
A communication technician was abducted by the bandits.
The source insisted that arms were being stockpiled in the creeks by unknown militant groups in the region.
“They have started setting up camps. In fact, there are many active militant camps in the region. Some have been in existence even after the amnesty granted to ex-militants. ###
Bennett James
