A violent clash between rival cult groups has resulted in the deaths of four people in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. The conflict, rooted in a dispute over debt recovery, escalated rapidly over the weekend.
According to reliable sources, the deceased were members of the Aye and Bagger cult groups. The initial incident occurred when a member of one cult sold hard drugs to a member of the rival group, who failed to pay for the drugs. In an attempt to recover his money, the seller confronted the debtor, leading to a violent altercation.
“The man met his debtor, who belonged to one of the cult groups, requesting his money. During the confrontation, he was beaten up mercilessly,” an anonymous source revealed.
The situation worsened when the beaten individual saw his debtor alone in a secluded area. In retaliation, he attacked and severed the debtor’s head with an unidentified object. This brutal act triggered a series of retaliations between the two groups.
“Pained by the retaliation, both groups mobilized their members against each other, and the brutal killings began within the Ughelli metropolis,” the source added. The violence started on Thursday, with killings occurring between Saturday and Sunday.
“Two people were killed at the Okogbe axis of Otovwodo. The other two were killed around Iwhreko and Ogor Park on Sunday morning. It has been a guerrilla operation between both groups,” the source explained.
While the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright, could not be reached for comments at the time of reporting, a senior security source from the state command confirmed the incident.
“We have only confirmed three deaths so far, and one of the group’s leaders has met with security agents to resolve the issues,” the security source stated.
Residents of Ughelli North are now living in fear as the violence between the cult groups continues. The community has called for increased security and swift action from law enforcement to prevent further bloodshed.