Seven killed in cult clash at Rivers beach party

   

No fewer than seven persons were reported killed in a clash that ensued between two suspected cult groups at a beach party in Tombia community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The party was organised on Saturday, by some youth resident at Tombia community to compliment the Christmas celebration which later had turned bloody following an alleged disagreement between suspected two opposing cult groups in the area.

It was gathered that some boys from Bukuma, a neighbouring community in the Ijaw nation who also attended the party met a strong opposition at the river side.

A witness who also attended the party disclosed that when the cult boys from Bukuma were opposed that fight broke out and about three persons from Tombia, the community that hosted the party, were feared to have been killed.

Following the previous encounter that left three boys dead, Sunday, some boys from Tombia community stormed Bukuma community with heavy gunfire.
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It was however gathered that the suspected cult gang from Tombia community invaded the Bukuma community to revenge the killing of their members at the beach party, Saturday.

On arrival at Bukuma community, the angry hoodlums laid siege to the community allegedly killing about four persons and leaving some citizens of the community with various degrees of machete cuts.

It was also gathered that it took the swift intervention of some soldiers around the community to bring the situation under control.

Residents of the community who had initially left the area in fear have started to return home as nomalcy is gradually returning in the two communities, but the residents are still living in fear as some of them have since relocated to their neighbouring communities.

When reached, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP. Ahmad Muhammad said he had not been fully briefed on the development.