Two persons were reportedly killed in a violent clash between suspected cultists in Mile 1 and 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
It was learnt that the incident occurred when members of the Lamidian and Virus houses of Deygbam cult groups engaged in a territorial control battle.
The first killing took place in the morning at Odunezealane axis of Mile 3 Diobu, where gunmen suspected to be members of a factional cult group ambushed and shot members of the rival group.
In retaliation, the gang members of the suspected cultist who was shot dead mobilized and went to Sagana/railway axis of Mile 1 Diobu in the afternoon, where they used machetes to cut their rival, known as ‘Ishi’, to death.
The victims were reportedly members of rival cult groups, with ‘Ishi’ allegedly participating in the killing of the other cult member in Mile 3.
The gruesome murder has sent shockwaves throughout the community, with business owners and traders hurriedly closing their shops for fear of the unknown.
The WHISTLER gathered that the incident is not the first of its kind in the area, as a similar clash occurred two months ago, resulting in the death of one person.
When contacted, the Rivers State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, promised to get back to our reporter but had not done so at the time of filing this report.
