At least two individuals lost their lives on Thursday when alleged cult members launched an attack on the residents of Oko, a community situated in the Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, located in Nigeria’s South-east, according to police reports.
One resident, Duke Ezeh, mentioned that the assailants seemed to be on a mission to retaliate for the death of a suspected cult member who had been killed by a rival cult faction in the area two weeks prior.
“They (the attackers) went to the shops of their targets and shot them dead,” Mr. Ezeh stated, clarifying that the events were not random shootings.
“They drove to the shop of a man selling gas, shot him dead, and then proceeded to the shop of another individual selling barbecue at a drinking establishment and killed him,” he recounted.
Another resident, Jude Ejiofor, reported that two additional individuals who were struck by stray bullets also succumbed to injuries during a shooting at a drinking joint that includes a section where students charge their mobile devices.
He further noted that two others—a woman and a man identified as a non-academic staff member of the polytechnic—were also hit by stray bullets but were revived at a hospital following the attack.
Cultism in Anambra
Similar to other regions in Nigeria, Anambra State appears to have a reputation for cult-related activities.
Earlier this week, police successfully disrupted a cult initiation ceremony in Nawfia, located in the Njikoka Local Government Area of the state, and apprehended six suspects.
