Renewed Cult Violence Claims Lives in Rivers State

In a disturbing turn of events, at least ten individuals have lost their lives in the Obelle Community located in Rivers State’s Emohua Local Government Area due to escalating conflicts between rival cult factions.

The most recent outbreak of violence took place on Sunday, February 9, 2025, shortly after an earlier incident where gunmen believed to be cult members attacked the area, resulting in the deaths of seven people.

This ongoing violence has led to widespread fear, prompting many residents to flee in search of safety.

According to sources cited by Punch, the clashes are driven by a power struggle between the infamous cult groups known as Deybam and Icelanders, who resumed fighting after more than two years of relative peace.

Reports indicate that following the attack on Wednesday that killed members of one faction, the survivors retaliated on Sunday by targeting the families of their adversaries.

A community resident, who preferred to remain anonymous and identified himself as Kingsley, shared the impact of the violence on innocent people.

“On Sunday, there were shootings in our community. Many lives were taken, including those of innocent civilians. The gunfire was overwhelming, forcing people to flee. As of now, about 19 individuals are reported dead,” he stated.

“In the morning, groups of armed cult members began shooting, retaliating against the families of those they blamed for the deaths of their comrades from Wednesday. Soon after, the rival group emerged, and a fierce gun battle ensued, leading to casualties on both sides.”

“We are urging the government to intervene. These cult factions are destroying our community. We need both police and military support to restore peace,” he added.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the state police command, verified the occurrence, linking the conflict to disputes over levies collected from an oil company operating in the vicinity.

“This is a clash between factions loyal to Naked Wire and Carol, fighting over control of the oil company’s levies. Approximately ten deaths have been confirmed. While no arrests have been made yet, investigations are ongoing,” the Public Relations Officer stated.