At least two persons have been feared dead after two rival cults clashed in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Sunday.
The deadly clash was said to be between members of Aye and Bagger confraternities of the Imo State University, Owerri.
A source told our correspondent that the supremacy fight started at a students’ hostel, Delight, in front of the university’s main gate.
The development caused pandemonium in the area, as students, as well as worshippers at a nearby church, scampered for safety.
According to a source, it took a police detachment from the Anti-Cultism Unit of the state police command and men of the Orji Police Division for normalcy to return.
The source said, “The gun duel between the rival cult members lasted for almost two hours.
“The cult members were just shooting one another.They are students of Imo State University, Owerri.
“Nobody can immediately ascertain the actual cause of the clash, but the shooting started at Delight Hostel in front of IMSU gate.”
Our correspondent gathered that rival cult members initially started exchanging words at the hostel.
The altercation degenerated to a full scale war which resulted in the use of weapons, including firearms.
The police spokesperson in the state, Andrew Enwerem, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.
But a police source confirmed the clash.
The police source said policemen from Orji Police Division and the Anti-Cultism Unit of the command restored normalcy to the area.
He said the police had arrested some of the cult members.
He said, “They are in police custody at the Orji Police Division. We are still combing the university for the ones on the run.”
