Three persons have been reportedly killed in the renewed cult clash in Ogep-Osokom in Boki local government area of Cross River State.
The clash between two rivalry cult groups, klans and Axe continued Friday morning in Ogep-Osokom.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area who went to the scene to possibly stop the clash was also shot.
The DPO sustained serious injury and was rushed to an undisclosed health institution in the State. Other victims who were also shot are also obtaining treatment in different locations in the area.
An eyewitness said that over three persons were shot to death.
“We wake up this morning to hear gunshot everywhere and some persons rushed and informed the Police. The DPO and others came with a view to salvaging the situation and stop the clash, but this was not possible.
“In the process, our DPO was shot on the head. He narrowly escaped death. However, he was rushed to an undisclosed hospital. I heard that he is recovering.
“There is tension in the land. We don’t know who brought cultism to our area. This place has been peaceful until recent times when we started witnessing certain movements. We did not know that it will take this shape, may God help us,” he prayed.
When contacted on phone on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ms Irene Ugbo confirmed that the DPO was shot on the head. She said the incident occurred Friday morning. She noted that the incident was not a communal but cult-clash.
“It is not true that somebody died but the DPO who went to salvage the situation was shot on the head. Also shot was a small boy. The DPO and the boy are currently receiving treatment.
“The DPO was going there to restore peace and bring the situation under control but the youths blocked him and in the process, he was shot on the head, that was what happened,” she stated.
She further said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa had dispatched a team of policemen to the area to fish out those who shot the DPO.
