Violence: Three feared dead in cult clash, two assassinated in Rivers State
*SARS invites traditional ruler for interrogation
At least three persons are now feared dead following a violent clash between two rival cult groups over a disputed piece of land in Rumukwashi community, in Abio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The clash also left five people seriously injured and receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
The clash, according to a reliable source, began following a dispute over the ownership of a piece of land in the area. It was revealed that trouble started when one of the disputants, alleged to belong to a cult group, invited his members to protect the land and the other group got wind of the development and arrived at the scene.
The source also revealed that the traditional ruler of Rumukwashi community and some persons have been invited by the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, for interrogation.
Commander of SARS, Rivers State, Akin Fakorede, who confirmed the cult clash in Rumukwashi community axis of Port Harcourt, capital city of the state, declined to give further details on the matter but stated that the traditional ruler and those arrested with him were already giving useful information to the Police.
He said that investigation was in top gear to dig out the remote and immediate cause of the clash and to ascertain all those involved in the clash.
In another development, two persons identified as John Barida and Goodluck Didi, have been assassinated in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
It was also gathered from a source within the area who identified himself as Hycinth Anah that the suspected assassins laid ambush for the victims outside their residence and then opened fire on them.
The two victims are said to be related to a notable politician in the state. One of them, Goodluck Didi was said to be the politician’s gateman while the second victim, John Barida was his uncle.
The victims had stepped out at the fateful hour to check the source of a noise behind the fence of the building when they were gunned down by the killers.
