Two die in C’River cult clash

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The clash, which involved Norsemen and Klux Klan, was said to have led to the death of the two yet-to-be-identified persons when the rival groups engaged each other in a free for all fight.

It was gathered that the incident, which happened during the burial ceremony of a woman, identified as Alice Ogboja, in the village of Akpakpanga, was as a result of a bitter argument between some members of the rival groups.

An eyewitness, Mr. Clemenson Mgbe, on Wednesday said, “Trouble started when a boy slapped a girl who is nursing a baby and her boyfriend, who is a cultist, confronted him and an argument started. Other members came and a fight ensued. One of them rushed home and brought a machete with which he inflicted cuts on one of the members,” Mgbe said.

Mgbe said the rival group mobilised later in the day and attacked members of the other group.

He said, “They went from house to house where the other members lived and a fierce battle ensued. Two young men were killed in the violence.”

When our correspondent visited Ogoja on Wednesday, streets around Abakpa where the fight took place were deserted.

The clan head of Abakpa, Chief M. Aruku, called for peace and urged that shops and the town market be opened.

The Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Hogan Bassey, said, “Yes, there was a clash. With the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, many boys are at home and such things are likely to happen, especially when the youths are idle.”