News Echo can report authoritatively that panic has taken over the atmosphere in the Over-Rail axis of Aba, Abia State following the killings of some youths suspected to be members of Aro, a dreaded cultists group reigning supreme in the city.
Our correspondent gathered that for the past four years the “Aro Cult” has been causing residents, especially around Over-Rail, Uratta, Ndiegoro, Obohia, Osisioma and Ogbor-Hill axes of Aba sleepless nights.
Investigation revealed that since the increase in the activities of the cultists, business operators whose businesses boom mainly in the evening are now sceptical to open for operation every evening.
A resident of Frank Road, off Omuma Road, Over-Rail Aba who spoke anonymously said that the police hardly remember that Over-Rail exists and needs to be policed, as no police patrol team visit the area.
He said, “We’re only remembered during revenue collection. By all records, Over-Rail is the second most populated part of Aba after Ndiegoro. These cultists come as early as 6:30-7:00 PM to rob people in their shops, beat people mercilessly, snatch phones, molest girls and do all manner of evil without anyone standing up to them.
“They don’t even cover their faces. My most disturbing worry is that some people on the streets know these people but are afraid to do something because of the way things are here. Our roads are so bad that police cannot access this place with their vehicles.”
News Echo reports that the table seems to have been turned on the cultists over the past one week, with many residents reporting that over ten of the known dreaded cultists have been killed by an unknown group of non-state actors with their bodies dumped for public display and later evacuated.
Efforts to know the group behind the killings and dumping of the bodies of the suspected cultists for public display proved abortive. Most of the residents are even of the opinion that even the killings will bring more trouble as they fear that the cultists will regroup.
Investigation revealed that the most affected areas in the cult activities around Over-Rail are: Ama-Ogbonna, Osusu Road, Omuma Road, Owerri Road, Erondu Road, Ogbonnaya Road, Onitsha Road, Cemetery Road, Onuoha Road, St Philip’s Road, Ikpeamaeze Street, Powerline, NEPA Line, Chief Nwaguru Street, Anglican Street and Charity Street.
Other areas affected include Nnadede Street, Bright Street, Aguata Street, Umeasiegbu Street, Agommuo Street, Oguikpe Street, Urakpa Street, St Eugene Road, Adindu Road, Holy Rosary Street, Sacred Heart Road, Akalanna Road, Azigbo Street, Ibenji Street, Sunday Street, Besi Street, Nise Street, Evurunaobi Street, Apostolic Road and Nwangwa Street.
News Echo also discovered that the event of the last week has sent both positive and negative messages to the residents who are not aware of those behind the killings of the suspected cultists and fear what could be the next line of action for some of the known cultists who are currently at large following the recent development.
“What’s happening is not a cult war. This area is dominated by the members of the Aro Cult. They’re not at war with any other group, but what we’re seeing is a killing that looks like what Bakassi did here between 1999-and 2003.
“The people killing those boys are sending a direct message because their bodies are dumped where the owners will see them and the killings are not done with the fight. None of those killed so far was a stranger to the people of the area. They are known.
“They are well known notorious boys. People are afraid because the killing is not by the police or the army. Many are calling the killers unknown gunmen but I can’t place my hands on their identity,” a resident who craved anonymity told our reporter.
When contacted, the Abia State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Geoffrey Ogbonna to get police official reaction on the incident; he did not pick up calls placed on his mobile line.
