Cultists, Gunmen Kill 7 In Delta

Following the invasion of Okpanam Community, near Asaba, Delta State, by suspected cultists and gunmen, no fewer than seven persons have been allegedly killed in the last two months, turning the area into a theater of war.

While the present situation of cult-related killings heightened, arsonists have not helped matters as several houses have been razed including properties allegedly looted. Okpanam community, as it were, is under Oshimili North Local Government area of e Delta State and has been under siege of alleged killings and land disputes.

But elders/residents of the community who spoke to our correspondent, have appealed to the State Police commissioner, Alkali Baba Usman, department of State Security ( DSS )and other security agents to come to their aid as a matter of urgency, so as to ensure the safety of lives and property in the community and its environs.

Speaking on behalf of others, the Ugoani of Okpanam kingdom, HRM Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, lamented that within the past few days, the menace of the hoodlums has become, intolerable posing serious threat to lives and properties in the community. He said that no decent society will condone it or accept the criminal behavior of the hoodlums.

The monarch urged the law enforcement agencies to promptly intervene by keeping regular surveillance and effectively monitoring the activities of the suspects.

It was reliably gathered that cult related activities thrive seriously as it ravages the community, especially at night fall when the hoodlums move around with AK47S at every nooks and cranny molesting unsuspecting and innocent residents.

The monarch said that the wicked activities of the suspected cultists who are often armed with battle axes, guns and other dangerous weapons, prompted the abolition of burial wake keeps and other anti-social night activities, adding that unless urgent Steps are taken to foil sinister motives of the hoodlums, the situation might portend the community in desolate. Also, a resident who fled to neighboring community and did not want her name in the print, said: ‘’Ever since this cult war started among the youths, there have been no peace in this community, it has become difficult for people to come out to the streets at night because of fear of attack by the rampaging hoodlums’’

Investigation revealed that rival cult group engage one another in fierce battle fight almost every day as they shoot sporadically and burn down houses of rival members.

These suspected cultists, our informed sources said, are members of Ake, Eiye and Vikies confraternities who during their initiation spill blood as oath takings and have allegedly captured several communities in Delta North Senatorial district.

The fleeing residents who spoke on why they deserted their homes, said ‘’ We cannot stand the killings of our relations, we need to run for our dear lives, they have been killing our people, destroying houses’’ But the police Public Relations officer in the State, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed that the police have arrested in the last two months, 121 suspects, disclosing that 62 were charged to court, while other were still under investigation.

DSP Kalu warned that the police will do everything possible to being to book those behind the activities.

Meanwhile, four- man armed gang of suspected kidnappers at the weekend at okere community in warri, abducted the wife of an Ugborodo Community trust leader, Mrs. Caro Botosan and took her to an unknown destination, just as one of the gang members was caught, beaten up and handed over to the police.

The incident which took place close to victims’ home happened when the four-man armed gang driving on a jetta car accosted her while on her way out of her street in her car at gun point, with three of them entering her car sped off.

Luck however ran out of the driver of the jetta car which they came in while trying to reverse the car to escape from one way road that was subsequently blocked by vigilante youths of Okere community.

The driver then ran out of the car in a bid to escape being lynched but was caught and beaten to pulp where he then confessed that they came all the way from Agbaho Community.

The husband of the victim, Mr. Isaac Botosan then invited the police from A Division Warri who on the spot arrested the suspect while the police are currently combing Agbaho community and its environs. (Leadership)