8 dead in Calabar cult battle

CALABAR—Supremacy war between two rival cults in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, weekend, turned bloody at a popular Calabar hangout on Atekong/Marian Road, when gunmen stormed the place at about 7p.m. After hours of shooting, two people were reportedly killed and many others left with gunshot wounds.

Weapons of war

 The weekend battle at Atekong was the latest in the battle for supremacy between the two rival cults, which, between Thursday and Saturday, had left over eight people dead and several others with various degrees of injuries. It was gathered that the war started Thursday night, when a university lecturer, said to be a top member of one of the groups, was shot dead. The incident reportedly led to the string of killings across the city. Weapons of operation A reliable source disclosed that “on Friday night, one person was shot dead along Queen Duke Street and another at Harcourt by Luggard. “One more was shot dead at the popular Calabar Motor Park, Etim Edem, located close to the Atakpa Police Division, on Saturday morning. “We have just received information that one of the twins that was shot along White House Street did not die, but managed to escape with gunshot wounds and has gone into hiding.” Ms Irene Ugbo, Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, said police anti-riot squad has been dispatched round the city to ensure peace. She added: “I cannot tell you the number of dead bodies from the fight, but the police are doing their best to stop the cult war. “No arrest has been made so far.”