PORT HARCOURT – Fear has gripped communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State following renewed violent clashes between rival cult groups, leaving at least two persons dead and one critically injured.
The latest killings, confirmed by the state police command, occurred in separate incidents in the Ngo and Unyengala communities on Monday, December 15, and Sunday, December 14, 2025, respectively.
Supremacy Battle Fuels Violence
Community sources indicate the violence stems from an ongoing and bloody struggle for territorial control between suspected members of the MEND and Iceland cult groups. The resurgence of these clashes has sparked deep concern among residents about a potential return to widespread cult-related insecurity in the region.
The incident in Ngo this week follows the killing of another victim, identified simply as Prince, in a separate Andoni community last week, suggesting a pattern of escalating tensions.
Police Confirm Details, Deploy Reinforcements
The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, officially confirmed the casualties.
“Yes,I can confirm the incident. Two persons were killed and another person was critically injured,” Iringe-Koko stated. “The killings are linked to a supremacy battle between two rival cult groups in the area.”
To quell the violence and prevent further bloodshed, the police have reinforced security presence across the affected communities. SP Iringe-Koko added that “investigations are ongoing with a view to arresting members of the cult groups involved.”
The situation remains tense as residents anxiously await the outcome of the police investigation and hope for a sustained security presence to restore calm to the area.
