OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO/ETOKEBE ANNABEL

There is heightened fears of cult clashes that may result to break down of law and order in Ekakpamre Community of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State after gunmen suspected to be cultists on Tuesday, March 22, 2021 morning allegedly murdered a young man in the community.

Findings revealed that the cultists allegedly stormed the community and went straight to the home of their target and shot him dead.

Sources simply identified the deceased as Ebeni who is in his early thirties, the source said that he was murdered in a compound near the Police Post in the community.

The incident, it was gathered, happened around 3:50am.

Findings further revealed that the incident sparked off outrage in the community as youths were said to have gone on rampage and in the process allegedly destroyed some motorcycles and tricycles.

They were said to have also damaged a police van after a team of police officers deployed to calm the situation allegedly shot a youth simply identified as Edafe.

Sources in the community said that the incident has snowballed into serious tension in the community as schools and markets were shut down in the area

One of the sources said Ebeni was killed over rival clash between members of the Aye and Dominion Confraternities.

Contacted for confirmation, DSP Edafe Bright, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Command confirmed the murder of the victim by suspected cultists but said that the Police did not shoot anyone in the community.