By Ovie Okpare
Rival cult clash on Thursday reportedly left at least two persons including a 14-year-old boy in Warri, the commercial nerve centre of Delta State, dead.
The incident, it was gathered, happened around the Old Welfare Street, near Lower Erejuwa area of the city.
It was gathered that the 14-year-old boy and only child of his mother was hit by stray bullet at about 7am when fight broke out between suspected cultists.
The suspected cultists were said to have shot repeatedly in the area while hunting for rival members.
Sporadic shooting was said to have caused serious tension as some residents of the area were alleged to have scampered for safety.
Sources explained that the late teenager was hit on his back by a stray bullet while assisting the mother who is a food vendor in the area.
The other late victim who was alleged to be a member of the warring cult groups identified simply as Morku was shot on his leg and reportedly died hours later.
The fleeing cultists who were given hot chase by police and vigilante operatives reportedly dispossessed residents during the clash.
“The suspect (injured cultist) has been arrested. He was arrested along side four other persons, including two females while trying to get treatment in Uvwie Local Government Area.
“Some group of boys held them when they discovered they had come to treat a bullet wound” the source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, confirmed the cult fight but said he was not aware that a boy was hit by a stray bullet.
CP Inuwa said, “all I know is one was actually hit with bullet which the Police, along with others arrested. On information, they arrested the other parties, about five or six of them who were involved in the violent clash.
“As for the deaths, I don’t know. If the one that was injured died, maybe he died as a result of excessive bleeding. It is possible he died thereafter, but up till now, I have not gotten the report.”
