Gunmen suspected to be cultists reportedly killed five persons including a final year medical student during a graduation party in Ekpoma town, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The deceased were said to be students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
They are:Einstein Chinedum, the final year medical student; a graduate recently mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps, Jerry Omobude; a serving member of the NYSC, Ugwi Martha, and one Ose Abulu.
It was gathered that the Tuesday incident started when a fight broke out between two persons at the party over an undisclosed matter.
One of them reportedly claimed that his shirt was torn during the brawl and left the scene angrily.
He was said to have later returned to the venue with a group of armed men, who opened fire on his perceived enemy, killing him instantly. The gunmen were also said to have shot the other four persons, who were guests at the party.
But the Edo State Police Command said one person was killed in the attack.
The state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, who spoke to The PUNCH on Wednesday, described the incident as a clash between rival cults.
Kokumo said those who sustained gunshot wounds were taken to an undisclosed hospital.
He noted that no fewer than four suspects had been arrested, adding that arms and ammunition were recovered from them.
“The people at war were members of different cults. The shooting was as a result of cult rivalry; that is the information reaching me.
“Arrests have been made. I think four to six people have been arrested with weapons.
“The information as of yesterday was that five people were shot; one was confirmed dead and the remaining four were taken to a hospital,” he said.
