Some persons were gunned down in a suspected cult war around Nibo and Okpuno community, both within Awka South Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra state capital territory on Sunday.
Blueprint gathered that eight persons were killed in Nibo community, while three others were killed in Nodu village in Okpuno.
According to sources, four other persons who sustained degrees of injuries during the attack died on their way to Abagana, Njikoka LGA.
It was learnt that trouble started around 1pm during the Nibo community’s celebration of annual festival, mostly known as Onwa Asa as gunmen in Hilux SUV vehicle drove into the venue of the event and opened fire which caused panic and chaos as people fled in different directions to escape the violence.
“At Oye Nwochichi by Nibo Old Maternity, A brown Colored Lexus 300 Truck/Jeep pulled up with 5 boys inside and Gunned Down 7 or 8 Men And Drove down to Eke Nibo immediately And Smoked down another 4 or 5 Niggas,” a source alleged.
But the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident in a statement failed to provide figures and other details of the victims.
Ikenga, while describing it as suspected clash between rival cults, hinted that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has ordered the immediate deployment of some operatives to the affected areas for necessary action.
He said the preliminary reports on the incidents were still sketchy, and the Command was calling on witnesses to come forward with information that could help identify the perpetrators for possible arrest.