At least four persons have been killed in Egbeda Community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State by men suspected to be members of the Odegu Security and Advisory Planning Committee, OSPAC.
Theportcitynews gathered that suspected cultists killed a relative of an OSPAC member who then invaded the area in a crude reprisal.
Tension heightened in the area a week ago as clashes between the vigilante group and cultists operating in the area led to the death of six persons, including three OSPAC members, a local chief, a bike man and one other.
Recall that three OSPAC personnel and an Okada rider were beheaded on Monday in Rumuodogo Community by gunmen suspected to be cultists.
The vigilante group, Theportcitynews gathered, were ambushed and killed in the early hours of Monday by the cultists alongside the Okada rider who was said to be conveying the vigilante members to the community.
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The killed OSPAC members include Ozule Elechi, a father of three; Chimelu Anyele, a father of two and others whose names have not been revealed.
The killing forced locals in the community to desert the community for fear of reprisals.
Theportcitynews gathered from reliable sources that the vigilante members were in the community in search of a cult leader whom they had earlier declared wanted for failing to shun cultism when they were ambushed and killed.
The vigilante said the cultists who attacked their personnel on Monday last week are trying to regroup to resume kidnappings along the Emohua East/West road.
OSPAC members who spoke on Tuesday complained that they lack the right ammunition to repel the cultists, adding that the state and local government have abandoned them.
Nnamdi Omoni, the public relations officer of the Rivers State Command, said he has not been briefed on the matter, adding that he will get in touch with the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer there, get the details of the clash.
