At least 19 people have reportedly been killed in a renewed cult clash in Obelle Community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, sparking panic and mass displacement of residents.
The latest violence, which erupted on Sunday, comes just days after unidentified gunmen—believed to be cultists—invaded the community on Wednesday, killing seven people.
Sources revealed that the Sunday attack was part of a long-standing supremacy battle between the Deybam and Icelanders cult groups, which had been dormant for over two years.
Following Wednesday’s killings, the group that suffered casualties reportedly launched a retaliatory attack on Sunday, targeting relatives of those suspected to be involved in the previous assault.
An eyewitness, Kingsley, described the chaos:
“On Sunday, cultists clashed in our community. Many people have been killed. Innocent people were affected. The shooting was too much, and people started fleeing. About 19 people have been killed.”
He called on the government and security agencies to intervene before the violence escalates further.
“These cults are trying to scatter our community. We want the police and army to help us.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, attributed the clashes to a dispute over levies collected from an oil company operating in the area.
“It is a cult clash between loyalists of Naked Wire and Carol. They are fighting over the control of levies from an oil company in the area. About 10 people have been confirmed dead. No arrests have been made yet, but investigations are ongoing,” she stated.
The latest killings have heightened tensions in the community, with residents fearing further attacks if security is not urgently reinforced.
