Five young men have been allegedly killed in a renewed cult war in Calabar South local government area of Cross River State.
The clash, DAILY POST gathered, is between Vikings, Mafians and KKK.
Among the deceased are a-200 Level student from the University of Calabar, (UNICAL) and a graduate of the Cross River University of Technology, (CRUTECH).
The cult war was prevalent in some areas designated as black spots. They include Ebito, Mayne Avenue, Orok Orok, Palm Street, Chamley, Bedwell, Watt Market Axis, Ekpo Abasi, Hawkins, Atakpa, Atu and Goldie by Mount Zion amongst others.
The cause of the rampage was yet to be known.
By 5-6pm on Saturday, a group of over twenty suspected cultists were seen along Egerton/Watt market brandishing guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons.
The operations affected economic and social activities as markets closed abruptly, while weddings and other social engagements halted. Many people lost their phones, hand bags, jeweries, cash and other variables to the cultists.
An eyewitness who declined giving his name said “At about 7:00am on Saturday, I heard some explosions down the street and I thought it was some kids exploding fireworks. However, my curiosity was aroused when the explosions sounded louder and more ferocious than the traditional fireworks.
“Ten minutes later, I stepped out to get some akara balls and I saw a crowd gathered some fifty yards down the street. When I got there, I beheld a room with its door shattered with an axe, and on the bed laid a body with its face covered with a towel.
“He was obviously dead having been shot severally. I was told the young man was a second year student of the University. The previous day, I was driving home at about 2:00pm when I saw people running helter-skelter around Palm Street. I wondered what the problem was but drove on.
“At Abasi Edem by Palm Street laid a body freshly butchered. I heard he was gunned down and butchered with machetes. I was told he finished from CRUTECH and has four kids.
“We are the sons and daughters of Calabar South and nobody can drive us away”, he fumed.
However, another eyewitness said, “He (the victim) walked me to the road and insisted that I board a taxi before he goes back, after more than two hours with Obubra Students at the Christmas Village yesterday.
“This morning, his call was the first call I received telling me he called to hear from me since he couldn’t call me last night. Two hours later, I was told he has been shot dead at Ekpo Abasi where he stays as a Student of CRUTECH.
“Odikode, I am yet to believe that, I won’t be seeing your call on Monday to enable me give you my support ahead of your inauguration as President of Obubra Students, CRUTECH chapter coming up on Thursday. Until we meet again, Rest on my dear brother”, he wept.
Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Irene Ugbo to comment on the clash proved abortive as her line was not going. However, a team of policemen have been deployed to some Streets of Calabar South.
If it’s a country where things are done the right way, where those in administration have the people at heart, we must bring those who know the game to pass it across to the next generation.
