Kelechi Kas
Cultists numbering over fifty have burnt houses in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
This comes days after cultists from the community killed three security guards working for SIAT Nigeria Limited, an agro-business company operating in the area.
The incident which occurred on Wednesday morning was said to be in retaliation to a military invasion of the community.
A community source who did not want his name mentioned said the soldiers who were in the company of other security agencies burnt houses belonging to some cultists which prompted their retaliation.
The source said the soldiers were drafted by SIAT to arrest cultists who killed three of their staff, adding that casualty figures from the raid were yet to be ascertained.
But the military through its spokesman, Charles Ekeocha, denied that the army burnt houses, adding that the soldiers went into the community with other security agencies when it was reported that two cult groups were fighting in the community.
He said the team left the community and did not arrest anyone.
Samuel Nwanosike, the Ikwerre the chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area said soldiers did not burn houses as being alleged, adding that the soldiers were responding to attacks by cultists in the community.
The Police Command in the state said the casualty figures could not yet be ascertained.
