By Ovie Okpare
Eight persons have been reportedly killed in a week-long cult clashes in Orhuwhorun and neighbouring communities of Udu Local Government Area, Delta State.
Sources say the fight between the two cult groups started last week Saturday with four persons reportedly killed on the onset of the onslaught.
Between last Sunday and Thursday this week, no fewer than four more lives have been lost to the gang violence.
Though reasons for the recent violence were still hazy at the time of filing this report, it was however, learnt that the fight rages between members of Aiye and Bagger confraternities in the Orhuwhorun area of Udu.
The dreaded clash had forced many residents of the densely populated community to desert their homes for safety.
Following the disturbance, operatives of recently formed ‘Operation Safe Delta (OSD)’ of the Delta State Police Command have arrested no fewer than 50 suspected members of the two cult groups in the area.
The suspects were arrested by police operatives of OSD under command of CSP Eyo Aniete at their various hideouts on Thursday night.
Peace is said to be gradually returning to the community following the police intervention.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Hafiz Inuwa, confirmed the development when contacted by NIGER DELTA TODAY Online on Friday.
Inuwa, who however, could not confirm the total number of suspects arrested, revealed that, “We (police) have made many arrests in Udu over the rival cult clashes in Orhuwhorun. We’ll not tolerate this nonsense under my watch. I can’t state the exact number of suspects but many of the cultists are now in police net”.
