The Police Command in Cross River has confirmed the killing of three persons after clashes between cult members in Calabar South Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Irene Ugbo, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Calabar on Wednesday.
Ugbo said the clashes occurred between suspected members of Klans and Black Axe cult groups.
‘‘Three persons have been killed and four people have been arrested; we are interrogating them.
‘‘Our men are everywhere in the area and the situation has been brought under control,” she said
Residents interviewed said that the clashes happened between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Mr John Achibong, a resident of Ambo street, claimed that he witnessed the killing of one of the deceased at about 11:10 p.m. on Tuesday.
He said the deceased was killed with a machete and left to die in a pool of his blood in the middle of the road.
‘‘I was coming back from Church and on Ambo street I saw some cult members beating up a young man and one of them picked up a big firewood from a man roasting pork and hit the deceased; he fell down and the other assailants were shouting finish him.
“One of them brought out a machete and butchered the deceased and left him to die in the pool of his blood.
‘‘The incident resulted in a stampede as everyone on the streets ran for shelter.
“The police from Mbukpa police station in Calabar South LGA came one hour later while the whole place was deserted, but could not make any arrest as everyone had fled the area,’’ he said.
He added: ‘‘Two other people were shot dead on Wednesday afternoon around Chamley street by Ekondo in what is seen as a reprisal attack in the same area.”
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