About 50 gunmen suspected to be cult members attacked Omoku Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday night, killing 15 persons including a couple and two brothers.
The cult members armed with cutlasses and different rifles, including AK-47 guns, came into the town at about 7pm on Friday and began shooting sporadically, a development that caused confusion in the area.
While some residents of the area ran to nearby bushes and neighbouring villages, others remained indoors more than 12 hours after the attack.
A similar incident occurred in the area (Omoku) in September 2015 when 15 persons were shot dead by suspected cult members.
It was gathered that some of the unknown gunmen marched from house to house and scared residents with their intermittent and deafening gunshots.
A source informed our correspondent through the telephone that some of the 15 persons that were killed were beheaded by the marauding men.
He disclosed that among those killed were a couple and two brothers from the same parents while half of those killed were beheaded.
The source said some of the areas in Omoku which the gunmen attacked were Sabo Road, Odieti, Usoniri and Obakata Quarters.
“Gunmen last night took over Omoku, killing not less than 15 persons. Among those killed were husband and wife as well as two brothers from the same parents. Half of those killed were beheaded by their attackers.
“The attack started around 7pm on Friday when we heard the sound of gunshots. We were told that about 50 gunmen came into Omoku Town and began to shoot indiscriminately.
“Those outside ran for their lives and we that were inside have been indoors in order not to be hit by the gunmen’s bullet. It was a terrible situation,” the source said.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, confirmed the incident, but said only six people, who were members of a cult group, were killed.
Mohammad explained that the incident was a battle for supremacy between rival cult groups in the town, adding that the situation had been brought under control by the police.
He said, “The incident is reasonably believed to be a battle of supremacy between rival cult groups in the town. As it is now, the situation is under control as anti-riot policemen were drafted to reinforce the existing security in the town. As for casualties, six dead bodies of the suspected cultists were recovered.”
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