The resurgence of cult-related killings and violence in Warri, Warri South local government area of Delta State, has claimed two lives.
A civil rights advocacy group, the Initiative for Social Rights Concerns and Advancements (ISRCA), popularly known as “No Justice, No Peace,” has condemned the resurgence.
The condemnation came amid renewed tension following a deadly clash between suspected rival cult groups at 3rd Marine Gate, near Deco Junction in Igbudu Community, Warri, on Sunday night.
The confrontation reportedly claimed the lives of two people, although it remains unclear whether the victims were members of any cult group.
Residents of the area have expressed growing fears over the possibility of further violence, as tensions continue to rise in the community.
Reports indicate that the latest clash involved members of the Eiye and Aro Bagger confraternities, two rival cult groups believed to be operating within the area.
In a statement made available to journalists in Warri, the ISRCA National Coordinator, Comrade (Amb.) Derrick Agberen lamented that cult-related violence has claimed the lives of more than four young men in recent weeks.
The group accused some community leaders of contributing to the spread of cultism by allegedly enabling criminal elements for political and other questionable interests.
According to ISRCA, the proliferation of cult groups has fueled illegal drug activities, the circulation of firearms, and political thuggery, creating a dangerous cycle of violence that continues to threaten lives and public safety.
The organisation called on the Delta State Police Command to urgently convene a stakeholders’ meeting involving community executives and leaders in affected areas to develop lasting solutions to the recurring killings.
ISRCA further urged security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the violence and restore peace to troubled communities.
The group also highlighted youth unemployment, poor parental guidance, and inadequate government intervention as major factors driving young people into cultism, warning that the growing menace poses a serious threat to the future of the state’s youth population.
Additionally, ISRCA appealed to local vigilante groups and the Anti-Cult Volunteers Corps in the Warri Zone to collaborate closely with the police in combating cult-related crimes.
The group maintained that the Delta State government must prioritize youth engagement and empowerment programmes as part of a comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of cultism and insecurity across the state
