Delta Police Confirm Deadly Cult Clashes

The Delta State Police Command has confirmed cult clashes among rival gangs in the state which reportedly claimed seven lives.

But the command has clarified that only one person was confirmed dead, with one other sustaining injuries.

Reports online claimed the alleged clash between members of “Aro baggars and Aye confraternities” in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state had led to the death of seven persons.

But speaking to THE WHISTLER on phone on Tuesday, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the command had only confirmed one death and one injured person.

The renewed clashes reportedly started over the weekend at Afiesere community, where a young man identified as Nyerhovwo, also called C.O, was attacked and his head smashed with a battle axe — suspected to be robbery attack.

But, C.O, who is a member of ‘Aye confraternity’ had reportedly died afterwards, inciting a reprisal attack from his cult group (Aye).

This led to renewed clashes between the two dreaded cult groups.

Onovwakpoyeya said the command did not have much information on specifics of the clashes but confirmed only one person, not seven, died from the clashes.

“It is only one person that died, one person injured, and he has been taken to the hospital but I can not tell you if it started three days ago, I can’t be exact,” the police said.

The state command, however, said that efforts were being made to capture the “fleeing suspect”.