Reports gathered reveal that revived cult struggle between Klans and Vikings has allegedly claimed five lives at Calabar, Cross River State capital, ADD reports.
The incident happened on Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday along Watt marketplace by Bedwell road, Ekpo Abasi Street, Ibesikpo Street, Atu Street, all in Calabar South local government area of the State.
An eyewitness, that gave her name as Justina Ekpo, stated that two young men were murdered along a favourite Watt marketplace, although each of them was killed in Ekpo Abasi Street, Ibesikpo, and Atu Street.
She said the murder was a reprisal of an attack which occurred in the early weeks of June.
“As at Tuesday and early part of Wednesday morning, at least five persons were violently killed by irate youths suspected to be members of rivalry cult groups.
“On Tuesday evening, as President Muhammadu Buhari concluded his one-day working visit to the state, a young trader known simply as Eyo was hacked down with axes, leading to stampede amongst market women and passersby. Another was also murdered some distance away.
“One of the victims was said to be a trader inside the popular Watt market while others were suspected cultists belonging to one of the cult groups.
“This early Wednesday morning attack is a reprisal; another young man was brutally attacked with machetes along Atu Street leading to his death.
“The same gang was said to have freely brandished their weapons such as pistols and machetes running down Ambo and Ibesikpo streets and forced residents to scamper into their homes”, she revealed.
When newsmen contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Ms. Irene Ugbo on phone on Wednesday, she confirmed the clash, saying it was between Klans and Vikings.
She explained that only two young men were murdered and not five as alleged.
“Only two suspected cultist were killed, one at Watt Market and the other along Atu Street,” she stated.
