The fight between rivaling cult groups on Wednesday at the well-known Eke Awka market in the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has led to the death of one person , identified as Igwe Omeli.
The victim was killed in the crossfire between members of the rival cult groups fighting for control over the market.
The dead was thought to be one of the market's Aye cult group leaders.
It was a conflict between the Baga and Aye cult groups in the market, according to a source in the marketplace who talked to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity for security reasons.
The source said, “The clash is related to market politics, but the man killed was the person they always used in terrorising us to comply with certain agenda. Any time the leadership want to enforce any agenda, he is the person and others they used.
“The Baga cult group members were pursuing Omeli and he ran into the market to mobilise his boys to rescue him and unfortunately for him, before his boys could get the information, they killed him and cut his head and male organ.
“He was killed inside the market at the abattoir area and the cult members cut his head and male organ with the butcher’s knives. Further bloodshed was averted as members of the rival cult group had fled before the deceased group members arrived at the scene.”
The source also said that a conflict between the same rival groups occurred a few weeks earlier and resulted in the death of one person.
When reached, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the state police public relations officer, verified the incidence and stated that police officers were scaling up operations in the area.
The PPRO said, “Police operatives have intensified surveillance operations in the area and investigation is ongoing. No arrest yet. More information will be communicated later.
“Our operatives have taken over the scene and information gathered from an eyewitness shows it is cult-related.
“Also, some witnesses of the incident have provided more information that is helping in ongoing operations aimed at uncovering the perpetrators.”
