Posted by From Kingsley Nwezeh in Asaba on
A gripping orgy of violence is currently ripping through the streets of Asaba, Delta State capital in what is believed to be a clash between rival cult groups. With the shooting in broad day light of a young man in his early twenties, the number of people killed in the gruesome fight has inched to 11 amidst renewed fighting yesterday afternoon.
A gripping orgy of violence is currently ripping through the streets of Asaba, Delta State capital in what is believed to be a clash between rival cult groups. With the shooting in broad day light of a young man in his early twenties, the number of people killed in the gruesome fight has inched to 11 amidst renewed fighting yesterday afternoon.
As early as 6pm residents of the most affected area namely Ogbesowe rush home to beat the time before violence erupts each day even in the absence of a curfew.
But the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr Festus Okubo said the state government is confident that the state police command has what it takes to tackle the situation.
'The state government is appealing to Deltans to provide the police with the necessary information needed to contain the situation. We have the confidence that the Commissioner of Police has what it takes to deal with the situation. This borders on security and the police commissioner briefs the security council from time to time and the council is satisfied that they are taking adequate steps. We are confident that the Police is capable of handling the issue", he said.
The state police commissioner, Udom Ekpo Udom who admitted that only four people have been killed so far, in reassuring residents of the city of his command's preparedness to deal with the situation, noted that the war was between rival cult groups tied to families involved in land tussles in the city as well as the ambition of some people to clinch certain positions in the run up to the 2007 elections.
'For the past four days, Asaba is almost turning into a cult killing field. Some of the cultists came before and were arrested and released on bail. Now they are back in full force. They are killing rival cultists. Some of the problems are about land speculation.
They thought that their membership of cults is enough to grab land. And there is also the problem of those who want to run for governorship, senate and other elective positions who are using these people. Cultism is an organized crime and we have a problem of extracting information from them so we need the help of the public", he said.
The police also paraded about 29 suspects said to be involved in