Obelle community in Emohua Local Government area of Rivers State was yesterday thrown into turmoil when the dreaded cult group, Black Axe, otherwise known as Aye, struck in the town.
At press time, no fewer than 19 persons were left dead, after the gamboling cultists invaded the area in hunt for persons said to be members of another rival cult group.
Only Wednesday last week, a similar incident occured in the locality, leaving seven people dead.
While the locals were still to get out of the shock of blood-letting that claimed seven lives on Wednesday in a clash between Black Axe and its rivals, known as Icelanders, the situation became worse yesterday as the Black Axe reportedly re-launched in a two-hour long operation that recorded 19 deaths.
It was gathered that the Black Axe, during the first invasion on Wednesday, were effectively matched by the Icelanders, in a battle involving use of pump-action and AK-47 guns, daggers, traditional axe, and other dangerous weapons along with fetish objects.
At the end, seven persons lay dead.
But it was gatthered that a week after, the Black Axe, now reinforced, launched a reprisal, targetting family members of its Icelanders rival, and at the end of the reign of terror, killed 19 persons in Obelle community.
Already, the Obelle community has been deserted as residents fled to adjourning communities for the fear of continued attacks.
“Many people have been killed, including innocent ones. The shooting was so intense that people began fleeing the area. About 19 persons have been killed.
“On Sunday morning, some cultists came out and started shooting. They were attacking the relatives of the people they claimed were members of the gang that killed their own. It didn’t take long before the rival group appeared and started shooting. Members of both groups were killed in the crossfire.
“We are calling on the government to come to our aid. These cults are trying to tear our community apart. We want the police and the army to help us,” a visibly shaken community source, who identified self as Kingsley, told newsmen.
Meanwhile, all efforts to get the police to react, proved abortive as the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer could not be reached on his cellphone.