THISDAY

Six Killed by Cultists on Easter Day Clash in Awka as Police Arrest Man with AK 47 Rifle

- David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

At least six youths were reportedly killed in Awka, the capital of Anambra State on Easter Sunday, during a clash by rival cult groups.

It was gathered that while some were felled at Okpuno area, some others were killed around Dike Street, near Eke Awka market, while another happened at Obinagu area.

This came as the police arrested a man in Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area, with an AK 47 rifle, concealed in a bag, said to have been procured by a sponsor of a cult group, to tackle rivals.

Easter day shooting in Awka was the first, after a very long while. Awka is notorious for cult clashes, but through police efforts and recent threat of arrests by police authoritie­s in the state, cult killings had disappeare­d.

According to sources, the Sunday incident happened in the afternoon at Eke Awka area, and also escalated to the other parts of Awka, where some more persons were gunned down by the cultists.

It was gathered that one of the persons hit by bullet was a staff of the Anambra State Judiciary, identified as Mr. Nwofor, believed to be going about his normal business before the cultists struck.

A video trending on the social media, showed bodies of two of the persons gunned down in the clash. While one of the victims was seen still struggling in pains for his dear life in the pool of his blood beside his motorcycle where he fell, passersby were seen scampering to their safety.

Meanwhile, police in the state have arrested a man carrying a bag containing an AK 47 rifle in Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area.

The man, who was arrested during the Easter holiday, on sighting the police, took to his heels and was chased, apprehende­d and searched.

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