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No fewer than four persons we’re reportedly killed while about five houses burnt as a result of cultism in Kabawa, a native area in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The crisis was said to have started on Monday night as two rival groups aged 13 to 17 years old engaged themselves in a free for all which led to killings and burning of houses in the area.
The crisis saw residents moving their families from the area to better-secured places to avoid being engulfed in the crisis.
According to report, an insider disclosed that the crisis is a result of a reprisal attack by another group following the killing of one of their members last week.
The sources added that the cultists, who were armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, invaded some houses, attacked people and burned houses they believe belong to rival groups.
However, when the police stormed the area on Tuesday to calm down the situation, some of the cultists engaged the security agent in a gun battle that lasted for several hours before they were overpowered.
Some members of the cultists jumped into the River Niger to avoid being arrested and then swam to the other side.
However, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, who confirmed the incident said the command can only confirm the death of one person.
He added that 15 suspects have been arrested and they are still investigating what led to the incident.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government has warned that they will take proactive actions against whoever is involved in the crisis.
The Kogi State Security Adviser, Commander Duro Jerry Omodara (Rtd), warned cultists and other miscreants fomenting trouble in traditional areas of Lokoja to be ready for the government’s onslaught as it has vowed not to allow anybody rubbish its successes in the area of security.
The Special Adviser in a chat with journalists following the rival cult crisis in the Kabawa area of Lokoja warned that henceforth anybody who feels he’s powerful should again try the government, promised that irrespective of how highly placed the person would be dealt with decisively.
According to the Special Adviser, “Be rest assured that Gov. Bello will deal decisively with cultism in Kabawa.
“We will arrest the situation and I assure you that we’ve moved into the area and made tremendous progress after enough intelligence gathering.”
“We have identified the culprits having extensively discussed it at the Security council.
We’ve gone deep into the matter but be rest assured that Gov. Bello is resolved that people must live in peace and go about their lawful business,” he added.