Cultists Kill 2 in Lagos
By Eugene Agha
Rampaging cultists brought academic activities to a halt when some members of a cult group stormed the premises of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, yesterday to protest the alleged killing of their members by a suspected rival cult group in Port Harcout, River State. And in the process, two students were allegedly shot dead while several others were injured in a battle that lasted for several hours.
Yesterday's incidence preceded similar event that took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in which about 30 persons were said to have died since the fighting broke out four days ago between two rival secret cult groups in the state. However, security has been beefed up in Port Harcourt and its environs while the police and the state government have since then been battling to bring back the situation to normalcy.
Although, the situation at LASU has been brought to a halt by the timely intervention of policemen from Area E Command, FESTAC Town, sources alleged that the group who arrived the school at about 6.30am, drove into the area in a convoy of about two vehicles loaded with suspected cultists.
However, the actual cause of the incidence could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report. Eye witness account has it that the group stormed the university to avenge the alleged killing of their members in Port Harcout recently.
The heavily armed suspected cultists raided all areas used by rival groups in search of their presumed enemies.
"They opened fire at passers-by immediately they drove into the school killing two persons in the process," the witness said.
The witness alleged that one of the deceased was actually on his way to the lecture hall when the incidence took place.
Several people among whom were lecturers, students and businessmen scampered for safety for fear of been caught in the middle of the crisis
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police (SP), Emmanuel Ighodalo, who confirmed the clash however, said nobody died in the clash.
"I do not have details of the clash, but I assure you that nobody died as a result of the crisis," he noted.
He stressed that the command was reliably informed that some group of people were causing problem at LASU but that the identities of those involved in the clash could not be ascertained.
Upon the receipt of the information a detachment of mobile policemen was drafted to the school. On arrival, according to him, the officers arrested some of the people believed to be the brains behind the crisis.
Although, he could not give the number of people arrested, Ighodalo stated that the situation had been brought under control.
At the scene, armed anti-riot policemen were seen patrolling the area while academic and business activities was gradually returning to normalcy following the presence of police officers in the area.
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