Residents protest alleged cult killings in Warri

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By Jimitota Onoyume

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Mothers and other residents of Odion Road, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, marched peacefully with placards, appealing for an end to cult killings in the area.

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Recall that last Sunday, one person was shot dead along Urhobo road in the area and the following day, Monday, another young man was shot dead by suspected cultists along Iyara road.

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Earlier on Saturday, a young man survived bullet injuries after he was attacked by suspected cultists in the hood.

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The mothers marched along the Odion road and adjourning streets, chorusing “We want peace.” Some of the placards they had read, “We want peace,” “Enough of the killings,” “People’s children are dying,” among others.

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The protesters said residents were living in fear of their lives in the area, adding that businesses were also affected.

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“We are afraid to bring our tables in the evening out to do our petty sales since the killings started,” one of them who identified herself as Stella said.

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She recalled that the man who was shot dead last Sunday was at a spot where he bought a sachet of hot drink and had not even started drinking it when some boys in tricycle pulled up in front of the vendor’s table and opened fire on him.

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“He bought a sachet of hot drink from a woman selling along Urhobo road and even sat down there to drink when they came to kill him right there. We are all afraid to do our petty businesses at night. The killings even occured in the day time,” she said.

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Another lady among the protesters who did not give her name said the suspected cultists on Monday targeted a young man, who was coming from a makeshift bathroom in a compound on Iyara road and shot him at close range.

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“That evening, they went for their target who had just finished bathing in the bathroom outside in the compound and opened fire on him. It was clear that somebody monitored the boy and called those who came to do the killing. Or they were waiting around,” she added.

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“We don’t know what may happen tonight. So, as mothers, we are begging for an end. I heard the one killed on Sunday was a father and a married man. We don’t know who are responsible for the killings. Some people said it is cult related. We are begging them to stop,” she said.

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