Gunmen suspected to be cult members on Saturday killed 19 persons in Aluu community in IkwerreLocal Government Area and Obite community in Etche council area of Rivers State.
A naval officer was among those killed when members of two cult groups stormed the communities and engaged each other in a free-for-all.
The gunmen, believed to be of Greenlanders cult, invaded Aluu in reprisal against a rival group, Icelanders and killed 15 persons, including a nursing mother.
A naval personnel, who was among the Joint Task Force team that went to the area to bring the situation under control, was hit by a bullet from the cultists.
Many others were injured during the attack in the Aluu community.
It was gathered that the cult members also killed some innocent persons and left several others with bullet wounds.
Some of the cult members also stormed Etche community and killed four persons, a community source, who witnessed the shootings, told Source.
It was learnt that the gunmen invaded a superstore in Omuoda village, opened fire and killed several people.
The bandits later advanced to Omuahunwo village and killed four of their victims who were suspected to be cultists.
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