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LAGOS, June 7 (Xinhua) -- The spate of killings by cultists and cult related activities in southeast Nigeria's Rivers State is alarming, the Nigerian Army said Tuesday.
Capt. Eli Lazarus, spokesman of the 2 Brigade of Nigerian Army in southern city of Port Harcourt, who disclosed this to reporters, said the troops would soon raid hideouts of cultists who recently killed soldiers in the state.
Recent killings by cultists and cult related activities had posed serious security threat to safety of residents and businesses in the state, he added.
"In the past few days, cult clashes were recorded with several deaths including our personnel who were part of the team that responded to distress calls in the area," Lazarus told reporters.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that these barbaric and condemn-able acts were clashes of dominance between Icelanders and other cult groups.
Lazarus added that this is seemingly motivated by the quest for economic advantage suspected to be connected to oil theft and illegal bunkering.
"The cultists are hereby warned to surrender their arms and turn away from their evil ways as any such attacks on any community will be met with full military action," he said.
The spokesman urged residents to remain calm as security agencies would continue to work assiduously to protect lives and properties in the state.
The oil-rich state has become one big theater of cult activities.
Between January and May, no fewer than 46 persons have been killed in cult-related clashes in different communities in the state. Enditem
