The cult war in Warri, Delta state, has continued unabated as two young men were shot dead last night around the 1st Marine Gate area by suspected cultists.

Also on Tuesday two young men were killed around the Cemetery road area of the oil rich city.

The sad incidents have again heightened tension with many residents appealing for an end to the reprisal actions of the cult groups locked in the clash.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that one of those shot dead around Cemetery road was identified as Yemi and he had relocated to another area with the parents. But the late Yemi since he grew up in the neighborhood kept coming to relate with his friends. “Sadly he was gunned down on Tuesday night. They moved out of the area some time ago. But he was always coming to see his friends”, a source said.

Multiple sources in the area said it was on Wednesday afternoon they discovered the corpse of the second person who was shot that Tuesday night alongside Yemi in a drainage close to a church building. “We found the corpse of the second person killed that Tuesday night with Yemi on Wednesday afternoon. We initially thought it was only Yemi that was killed that Tuesday night since that was the only corpse we saw on Tuesday night. But when friends of this guy were not seeing him they kept asking until they found him in the drainage”, the source added.

Residents who spoke to the Saturday Vanguard pleaded with security operatives and the government state government to do more to secure lives and property in Warri. They also enjoined the young ones to shun cultism.

An elderly man who gave his name as Sam said he still could not fathom what was attracting the young ones to join cult groups. “They are not ignorant of the cult related killings but yet they still join cult groups. Now we have lost two young boys in their prime. This is a very painful loss to their parents and everyone”, he said.

No fewer than eight young men have died in the area under cult related circumstances. Last month three were killed, a development that prompted women to march to the Secretariat of Warri south local government area to appeal to the Chairman of the council, Mr Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, to take decisive action to end the menace of cultism in the area.

According to another resident, Misan, he said in order not to attract the attention of vigilante members operating in the area those behind the killings struck when people were still doing business. “They knew they could be arrested if they had come late at night so they struck when streets were still busy. They ensured they moved when they would not be stopped for questioning,” the resident said. (Saturday Vanguard)

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