A fierce battle between two notorious cult groups, Baggar Confraternity and the Axe Men, has claimed another life in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, raising the death toll as the violence enters its fourth day.

The latest victim, Comrade David Isangedighi, a 40-year-old principal of Rivera School in Marina, Oron, was brutally beheaded by members of the Baggar Confraternity on Wednesday night, and the headless body was deposited at Oron General Hospital mortuary, Iquita.

Eyewitnesses reported that Isangedighi, a native of Akai Atti village in Oron, was beheaded in a shocking act of violence as the confrontation between the rival groups escalated.

His murder followed the killing of two others by the Baggar Confraternity, while the Axe Men are reported to have killed one person since the conflict began earlier in the week.

The rivalry between these cult groups has turned parts of Oron into a battlefield, leaving residents in fear.

?Ho! My head!? were reportedly the last words of Comrade Isangedighi as he succumbed to his attackers during the confrontation.

Local sources indicate that the cult war had been brewing for some time, with tensions reaching a boiling point over territorial control and supremacy. As clashes continue, residents are urging the state government and security forces to intervene and bring the violence to an end.

The gruesome nature of the killings has plunged the community into mourning, especially those connected to Rivera School, where Comrade Isangedighi served as principal.

His untimely death has also sent shockwaves through the educational institution, as students and staff struggle to come to terms with the loss of their leader.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident, although police and security personnel are reportedly mobilised to provide security for people and property. (The Guardian)

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