The tragic incident occurred in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital in Nigeria’s South-South region.
At least three persons were reportedly killed while several others were severely injured in a rival cult clash involving two notorious confraternities on Tuesday night.
The tragic incident occurred in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital in Nigeria’s South-South region.
Eyewitnesses around the Ibom Plaza axis of the city centre told journalists that the fracas started at about 6:30 pm, and lasted for about two hours.
Some police personnel and soldiers later arrived to restore normalcy.
Aniekan Akpainyang, a tricycle operator, who spoke to journalists, said the violence was caused by a minor disagreement at a betting shop along Ikot Ekpene Road.
He said the disagreement triggered buried animosity between the rival groups.
"One cultist had placed a bet to the tune of N5,000, but could not pay after he lost. The shop attendant asked him to pay or drop his phone, but he refused. Instead, he called his gang members on the phone, and they came and pounced on the attendant and raided the shop," he said.
He added that the issue led to a full-blown crisis that got three persons killed.
One person was killed in the Plaza area; one was killed at Ikpa Road junction, close to the University of Uyo campus, and the third person was on a street some meters from Uyo city centre.
The police confirmed the incident but did not give the casualty figures in a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesperson for the state police command, SP Odiko Macdon.
"Yesterday (Tuesday), at about 6:30 pm, the Command received information about a Cult clash at the Plaza.
"While the Commissioner of Police, CP, Olatoye Durosinmi, condemned in strong terms, the unfortunate incident which caused palpable fear among the good people of the state.
"The CP has reminded those involved in this dastardly act to note that the ban on cultism in the state is still in force and that henceforth, perpetrators of such acts will be apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.
"The CP has, therefore, called on residents to go about their lawful duties without fear of molestation as the Command has emplaced adequate security at the Plaza and around the state, throughout the Yuletide and beyond," the statement said.