Members Of Rival Cult Groups Clash In Cross River

One person has been reportedly killed following a clash between members of Vikings and Black Axe cult groups.

The Punch reports that the fight started when a member of Vikings disagreed with a rival from Black Axe group who was wearing red socks.

Members of Vikings cult group.

Henry Fadairo, the state commissioner of the police, confirmed the incident while parading 10 suspected cultists and four kidnappers at the state police headquarters in Calabar.

Fadairo revealed that the suspected cultists were arrested on August 2, 2015 in the premises of a night known as ‘Memories Flavour’ in Ogoja, Cross River state.

“On the strength of the information, the police swiftly moved to the scene to discover that it was a fracas between two rival cult groups, Vikings and Black Axe.

“Investigation by police revealed that one Smart Umaru, a Vikings member, allegedly stabbed one Emmanuel Sunday, a member of Black Axe, to death. In the course of the investigation, we arrested 10 suspected cultists,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the arrested cultists are Emmanuel Igwe, Perry Onuyi, Emmanuel Agbada, Agom Joseph, Mohammed Liman.

Some of the Black Axe Members

Meanwhile, an arrested 20-year-old member of Black Axe, Leo Agida, explained what caused the quarrel that led to the death of his colleague, Emmanuel Sunday.

“They said it was because he (Sunday) was putting on red socks and a member of Vikings tried to force him to pull off the socks and in the process fight started,” he said.

A 17-year-old member of Vikings cult group, Emmanuel Igwe, confirmed that his cult member stabbed Sunday to death, and gave details of the crime.

“I was just about entering the night club when I saw a Vikings colleague fighting. I didn’t go near them, I just watched from a distance. I saw that he stabbed the boy three times. I didn’t know what he used but I saw that the boy died. I later got to know that he (the deceased) was a Black Axe boy known as Emmanuel Sunday,” he said.

When asked what red socks meant to his cult group, Igwe explained that Vikings were identified with the use of red socks. However, he admitted that the cause of the fight might be different.

“Other things may have caused it. Although we use red socks and we identify with it, but anybody can wear it. I do not think that was really the cause of the fight; there might have been other issues,” the young boy added.

A month ago, Ughelli town in Delta state also witnessed a clash between rival cult gangs which disrupted activities in the town. Suspected cultists attacked and killed a rival gang member in broad daylight.