By Cajetan Mmuta
Tension heightened in parts of Awka, the Anambra State capital as renewed bloody clashes between rival secret cult groups have claimed four lives and one person injured in the process.

Three bodies of the victims were found inside a gutter, nearby bush, and roadside along Ifite Awka road which is dominated by resident students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (UNIZIK), and close to White View Hotel in Awka.

Although, it was not certain if the corpses of those who died during the melee were those of students of the university.

Another dead body was said to have been discovered near St. Anthony Catholic Church along the same Ifite Awka road in the capital town.

ThisNigeria gathered that the incident occurred at about 12:30 pm on Wednesday.

It was also learned that the rival secret cult members had engaged themselves in a gun duel which led to the death of the trio.

The names of two out of the three dead victims were given as ‘Tallest’ and ‘Army Man’ respectively.

One person identified as a commercial motorcyclist was said to have been hit by a stray bullet during an exchange of gun battle between one of the rival groups and rescue team from the Anambra state police command.

Investigations show that the rival groups were locked in a fierce gun battle which to the death of the three-person before operatives of the police command were alerted.

The group on sighting police engaged them in a shootout that quelled the tensed atmosphere.

Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga when contacted on Thursday confirmed the incident which he said happened as a result of clashes by rival secret cult members.

He said, “The incident happened along with King And Queen Nursey/Primary School junction by Ifite Awka road. Police Response team quickly rushed to the scene and recovered three bodies and they have been deposited at the mortuary.”

According to the police spokesperson, only three persons were killed, stressing that the command was not aware of any other dead person in connection with cult clashes in the state.

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Ikenga added that “Immediately the police response team was coming to those guys (cult members) tool to their heels and they (police) recovered a stray bullet that hit a motorcyclist. The incident happened at about 12:30hours on Wednesday.”

It would call that residents of Awka town have enjoyed relative peace following the invitation of members of the red cap Bakassi Boys who raided some hideouts of criminal elements and daredevil secret cult members whose activities crumbled socio-economic activities for over six months leading to the death of more than 40 persons in several parts of the capital town.

The latest renewed killings came less than 24 hours after suspected assassins descended on Eke Agu Market in Abatete community where they killed five persons including a popular businessman and billionaire, Chief Philip Udalla who was reputed for his philanthropy and sports enthusiast, Mr. Godsent Eriobu who was Secretary of Anambra Independent Football League (AIFL), three policemen and a driver.