Two persons were shot dead while another sustained critical injuries following a clash between rival cult groups in Rivers State.
The violence, which reportedly began on Sunday and continued into Monday, occurred at between the Unyengala and Ngo communities of Andoni Local Government Area.
The conflict was linked to a struggle for supremacy and territorial control between the rival groups, triggering panic among residents.
A resident said sporadic gunshots forced people to flee for safety.
“It started on Sunday evening when we heard gunshots in Ngo and Unyengala. People were running to save their lives. It was later that we learnt that two persons had been shot dead,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said security operatives had been deployed to restore calm.
“Yes, I can confirm the incident. Two people were killed, while another person was critically injured. The incident is linked to a supremacy battle between two rival cult groups in the area,” she said.
Iringe-Koko added that security presence had been reinforced and that investigations were ongoing to apprehend those responsible, as residents expressed fear and called for sustained security measures.
