Two feared dead, one injured in Ekpoma cult clash

TWO persons were feared killed and another critically
injured in the last two days at the university town of
Ekpoma in Edo State, following a clash between
suspected members of two cults, Black Axe and the
Vikings.
According to reports made available to the Nigerian
Tribune, a member of the Ambrose Alli University
(AAU), Ekpoma Anti-Cult Campaign Organisation of
Nigeria (ACCON), who had renounced his
membership of the Vickings, allegedly shot a
member of the Black Axe, an issue that was said to
have been resolved with the intervention of the
university authorities.
However, it was learnt that shortly after school
resumption, the Black Axe confraternity purportedly
arranged a reprisal attack, in which an alleged
Vikings member was shot dead and another critically
injured.
It was gathered that there was, however a calm
atmosphere at the university campus on Tuesday,
with students going about their normal businesses.
A number of the students said they had no
knowledge of any cult incident, pointing out that if
any clash ever took place it must have occurred
outside the school premises.
Head of the Public Relations Department of the
institution, Mr Chris Adamaigbo, could not be
reached for comments, however, the state Public
Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Anthony Airhuoyo,
confirmed the incident, saying that "the district
police officer there (Ekpoma) has briefed me that two
persons died in the clash between two rival cults
outside the school premises."