On Wednesday, August 20, two youths were shot dead following renewed violence by rival cult groups in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

It was gathered that one of the deceased was shot multiple times by members of a cult group at Stop Abortion Junction on Ibusa Road on Tuesday night.

A source said, “About four boys alighted from a vehicle around 7pm and people started running for safety upon hearing gunshots.

“I sighted the victim trying to board a motorcycle. Suddenly two men out of four who came out from a car, walked to him and shot him continually till he died.

“Almost at the same time, another unidentified man was shot dead by unknown gunmen around 7:20pm opposite a popular church along Ibusa Road, Asaba.

The kllling of these three persons brings to nine cult-related deaths recorded in five days in Asaba.

In Warri, three persons were kllled in similar circumstances, bringing the tally to 12 in the state.

Police spokeswoman Onome Onovwakpoyeya confirmed the incidents, saying three suspects have been arrested in connection with the klllings.

In Rivers, suspected cultists kllled a community chief and three other residents in Luebe, Khana Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the bandits also attacked another local leader in a nearby community on Tuesday.

Police said they were yet to be briefed about the incident.

In Cross River, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested five cult suspects.

Parading them yesterday in Calabar, Mr Danjuma Elisha, State Commandant of NSCDC, told NAN that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday in Ogoja council area.