At least two people are feared dead following a violent clash between members of the Deygbam cult group and local vigilantes in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The deadly confrontation occurred on Wednesday night at Echue Street in Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.

According to eyewitness accounts, cultists operating in the Diobu area ambushed a vigilante member identified only as Sango as he was returning home. The assailants reportedly shot him dead on the spot.

Upon learning of their colleague's murder, other vigilante members quickly mobilized to the scene, resulting in an intense gun battle with the cultists. During the exchange of gunfire, a female bystander was reportedly struck by a stray bullet.

Eyewitness Account

A source familiar with the incident, who identified himself only as Maxwell, described the chaotic scene: "The bad boys that are disturbing Diobu ambushed a vigilante member and killed him while he was returning home. When other members of the vigilante heard it, they came to the scene."

"The cultists engaged them. There was serious shooting between the two groups. In the course of the shooting, a stray bullet hit a young lady. The vigilante group eventually chased the cultists away," Maxwell added.

Police Response

Grace Iringe-Koko, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident was cult-related. She stated that Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adepoju Adewole, had directed tactical units to deploy to the troubled area, and normalcy has since been restored.

"The police have launched an investigation into the incident," Iringe-Koko said, assuring that all cultists involved would be apprehended and prosecuted.

This latest violence follows a similar incident on Sunday night when a taxi driver named Barnabas was shot dead by suspected cultists in front of his residence, also on Echue Street in Mile 2 Diobu.

The recurring cult-related violence has raised concerns among residents about security in the Diobu area, which has experienced several deadly confrontations in recent months.