Cult war claims 3 persons in Delta

From Osakhare Erese Asaba

Three youths of Ossissa community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State have been confirmed dead following a shootout between “Eiye” and “Baga” cult confraternities over a girl.
The dead, one from Umueze and two from Umuleke Ossissa were reportedly shot on Monday evening when the two groups clashed in a heated confrontation.
Our impeccable source confirmed that trouble ensued when a cultist’s love advance to a girl was snubbed, leading to the boy attacking her.
According to the source, the intervention of the girl’s relatives led to the invasion of their family house by members of a cult group, which attracted the attention of the opposing cult group for rescue.
An indigene of Ossissa who spoke to our reporter on grounds of anonymity said that activities of the cultists had remained unchecked owing to their dreaded impunity and threat.
He explained that the incident occurred in broad daylight, along the Ossissa major internal road and pleaded with all parents and community leaders to unite with the security agents to help in checking the activities of the cultists in the area.
While lamenting the loss of lives and property worth millions of naira to the activities of the cultists, Ossissa indigene pleaded with government at all levels, to proffer a lasting solution to cultism in communities.
A former Councilor for Ossissa and immediate past Secretary to Local Government (SLG) Ndokwa East Local Government, Hon. Vincent Oshilonya debunked the rumour that the cult clash resulted from political misunderstanding over choice of candidates as was insinuated. Oshilonya told our reporter that no human being has the right to extra-judicially take the life he cannot give and advised all security stakeholders to convene a security meeting with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book, to serve as a deterrent to others.
While expressing disappointment over the mayhem and other forms of insecurity caused by the cultists in Ossissa, the former S.L.G pointed out that the time had come to redeem the image of the community and requested all Ossissa leaders, particularly elders, chiefs, youths and church leaders to rise up to the challenge.
Ashaka Divisional Police Officer (DPO) SP Ifeanyi Nmor when contacted for comments on the incident said that no arrest had been made as the culprits were already at large and pleaded with the community leaders to cooperate by fishing out the cultists with a view to handing them over to the law enforcement agents.