Cult-related war has allegedly claimed the lives of two persons in Umuojoagu, Issele-Azagba, Aniocha North local government area of Delta State, as hundreds of residents fled the area for fear of loosing their lives.
Reports said cult war activities became a common practice by youths in the area.
A cross-section of the people who spoke to our correspondent in the area stated that while majority of the indigenes had no land allocated to them for erection of their places of residence, some dare-devil cultists among the youths allegedly embarked on wanton sale of the parcels of land at give- away prices.
Some members of the community, who spoke to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY on conditions of anonymity, however, urged the State Commissioner of Police and the State Security Service (SSS) to take urgent steps to checkmate the nefarious activities of some suspected cultists and irate youths who become a nuisance and a threat to lives and property in the community within the last few weeks.
The cultists, reports further said, allegedly shot two of the youths who objected to their obnoxious act.
Police authorities in Issele-Azagba confirmed that some of the suspected members of the cult group were arrested, but a community leader in the area, Prince Francis Obi, lamented that the way and manner the suspected cultists sold parcels of land belonging to the community, especially their farmlands, would soon make it impossible for them to farm.
Investigation revealed that indigenes had to pay as much as N300,000 on loan if they? desperately needed the land, and that this had led to the defrauding of some persons.