Bizarre cult activities and its related issues have created palpable fear of the unknown in Asaba, and its environs in Delta state following the alleged killings of 23 persons in the last two weeks in cult related matters.
Although, the police authority in the state led by Hafiz Muhammed Inuwah said that the police command was on top of the situation, adding that several suspects have been arrested, but the police statement, rather remained hyperbolical considering the current facts on ground.
In the last three days, there has been horrendous hue and cry in Umuagu, Ogbesowe, Otuogu, summit road, Illah community, Ibusa Community, and Okpanam Community near Asaba where various cult groups have allegedly sworn to make lives unbearable for their targets, particularly their members whose hands were alleged to have been soiled with blood of others through dastardly killings.
While the situation appeared to be more precarious in Asaba and its environs, two rival cult groups (Aye, and Baggars confraternities) are currently threatening the relatively peaceful coexistence of the people, and had murdered sleeps for them through their current alleged killings of persons, especially in rival revenge manners.
Sources said that Umuagu, Ogbesowe, Otuogu, Isieke, Nnebisi quarters’of Asaba currently portend dangers during nightfall as Aye and Baggars confraternities’ members have launched fierce warfare on rival cult war, thereby allegedly killing sixteen of their members of the alleged twenty three persons Killed.
Like ferry tales, these cult members literarily armed with the sophisticated guns, are killing their targets at restaurants, home video watch houses, bet Niger centres, drinking spots, among others during nightfall and in most cases, at strategic event centres in Asaba after commando display orchestrated by the smoke of many wraps of indian hemp including what is described as ‘seeds”
Residents of Asaba and its environs presently sleep with their two eyes open and fear of the unknown as most of their operations are not only bloodletting, but weeping incident that are sorrowfully followed by non stop shootings with” nothing dey happen” But a business man who runs his business along Nnebisi road, Mr Ezikiel Osokugwu who spoke to our Correspondent said “the situation here in Asaba is not funny at all, and police are doing nothing about the situation. Three of my university mates were on Wednesday night killed in cold blood, and I am getting worried, we need the police to act faster and save the lives of the people now”
Business activities in Asaba and its environs are no longer as usual as their owners before 6pm close shops for fear of the unknown, especially with the rampaging hoodlums who are ready to shoot at the sight of their targets.
Another resident of Asaba, Lucky Osekwenike said” the current cult war is between rival cult groups, but the situation is not comfortable for we residents, they are always shooting everyday and everywhere, and have been killing, we want the police to come to our aid and ensure that the people involved are brought to arrest immediately”
Sources close to elders of Asaba are said to holding meetings with a view to bringing the situation to nomal and they have reportedly vowed to rain curses on the perpetrators if in the next two days the situation is still unabated.
Condemning the activities of the cult groups, the Iyase of Asaba, Obi Patrick Onyenobi said that those involved in cult activities and the alleged killings, would at all costs face the consequences, stressing that elders of Asaba community were currently meeting to discuss solutions to the menace, adding” we are meeting at present, and certain decision to eliminate the activities would be taken soon. It is unfortunate that our youths who were supposed to have been leaders of tomorrow are involved in cultism and this is not good”
But in a swift reaction, the police commissioner in the state, Hafiz Muhammed Inuwah who spoke to Journalists in Asaba, disagreed with the 23 persons murdered, saying that only three people have been Killed in cult rival war, adding” we are on top of the situation and we shall bring to arrest the perpetrators of the crime, we will not tolerate the act of breakdown in law and order. We have arrested several suspects and they shall be charged to court on completion of investigation”
