A young man was shot dead following a clash between rival cult factions in the Mile 1 axis of Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, reportedly triggered by a dispute over a girlfriend.
The incident occurred on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, along Abakaliki Street, where factions of the Deybam cult group—identified as BS and D12 houses—engaged in a violent confrontation.
Residents said the violence involved suspected members of the Doggies and White Eagles factions, who were reportedly fighting over territorial control as well as the attention of a young woman in the area.
The situation escalated when the groups went on a rampage, leading to the killing of a member of a rival faction.
The victim was said to have gone out to buy bread at a nearby shop when gunmen arrived in a vehicle and opened fire on him.
The shooting sparked panic in the neighbourhood, forcing residents and passersby to flee for safety.
Police officers from the Mile 1 Division later arrived at the scene and evacuated the body after the attackers had fled.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and said a manhunt has been launched for the perpetrators.
She linked the killing to an intra-cult clash among members of a group in Diobu.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, has ordered a manhunt for the perpetrators with a view to bringing them to justice. Security has been reinforced in the area as investigation continues,” she added.
