No fewer than four persons have been killed after suspected cultists invaded Ifite Awka area, behind the school gate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State on Thursday.

Eyewitnesses, who live around Witness Garden, Ifite-Amansea Road, said gun-wielding hoodlums invaded the axis around 9:30am on Thursday and opened fire on some persons suspected to be members of a rival cult group, thereby causing chaos and panic in the area.

From information gathered, the attacking suspected cultists were looking for members of the rival cult group who were said to be hanging around the vicinity of Unizik School Gate.

In his reaction to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that a team of policemen has taken over the scene of the shooting.

According to him, preliminary information showed that the armed men, unprovoked, started shooting sporadically and some bullets, fatally, hit four persons in the area who were rushed to the hospital for aid by the police operatives.

Ikenga also said some empty shells of bullets had been recovered at the scene.

He revealed that operations were still ongoing in the area and further details would be communicated to the public in case of any new development.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command has said that it has started investigation into some intercepted videos and voice notes on social media space threatening violence in the state.

The Command said it is not taking the clips for granted and shall live up to its mandate of maintaining law and order by ensuring that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental human rights of others.

“Recall that the Command in the past has arrested some persons involved in such acts of making videos and voice notes to cause tension, and panic to distract the peace of Ndi Anambra.

“Given the above, Police and Other Security Forces have intensified patrols, and improved security dominance and surveillance to enforce the law, maintain Public Order, Public Safety and other Support Services in the State,” the police statement read in party.