2 killed as cult groups clash in Abuja

Two persons were reportedly killed while others sustained injuries following a violent clash involving two cult groups in Karmo, an Abuja suburb.

The groups were identified as Black Axe and Arrow Bagger.

Sources told our reporter that the incident, which happened in the early hours of Monday, started from White Garden, venue of a birthday party organised by a member of one of the groups in the town, adding that the party was interrupted before its scheduled closing.

It was learnt that a member of one of the groups identified as Haruna Aminu of Unguwar Hausawa Karmo, was earlier attacked around the place where the party was organized.

“He was rushed to the Gwarinpa General Hospital and later referred to Abuja National Hospital where he died on Monday,” one of the sources said.

The second person killed, identified as Yusuf Ismail, a source said was trailed to his family home at Unguwar Gade on the night of the incident and eventually killed by rivals of his group.

It was gathered that youths with sympathy for one of the groups had earlier vowed not to allow the remains of one of those killed to be buried, even when all the funeral rites were been completed until some of the elders pacified them.

“The protest went on after the burial until the police, along with the vigilante dispersed them and started patrol.

“A house said to belong to the family of one of the cult groups’ leader identified as Johnson aka J. Blinks, was demolished in the town allegedly by the vigilante group in the area,” one of the sources added.

He said the action of the group followed the discovery that the said Johnson and his parents had fled the area following the killings.

When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Karmo, CSP Ahmed Alhassan, confirmed the incident, adding that the remains of the other person killed was still at the hospital.

He added that five persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident.