Asaba Residents Live in Fear as Cult Clash Leaves Six Dead

By Sunny A Ijomah

Residents of Asaba, Delta State Capital, are presently sleeping with one eye close one open after six persons were reportedly killed in renewed cult clashes. The deceased were reportedly killed between Monday and Tuesday morning in different locations in the State Capital. Meanwhile, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Oshimili South Chapter, Sanchino, has also been shot dead by unknown gunmen.

It was learnt that the latest six victims were suspected to be members of the Black Axe Confraternity also known as Aiye and they were said to be murdered in different parts of the town in what is believed to be retaliatory attacks.

One of the victims, an Asaba-based Surveyor simply identified as Ifeanyi, was mowed down at a street opposite the Stephen Keshi Stadium along the popular Nnebisi Road at about 7pm on Monday, July 11. Another victim, a middle-aged man, was reportedly beheaded at the early hours of Tuesday.

His severed head was deposited at Otuogwu area in the metropolis while the body was said to have be recovered where it was staked behind Oshimili South Council Secretariat.

As at Wednesday, residents who reluctantly spoke to our correspondent along the Nnebisi Road said, they are living in fear because they do not know if the cult fight will continue, but called on the security agents to wade in.

However, Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe said; he was only aware of three persons killed at various locations in Asaba between Monday and Tuesday. ‘The information we have here confirmed three killed and it is about cult related matter. The Police is on top of the situation,’ he stated.