The Anambra State Government has vowed to hunt down perpetrators of the cult-related killings that occurred at the Nibo community in Awka South Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

The killings, which resulted in the deaths of no fewer than 13 persons, occurred when some hoodlums suspected to be cultists invaded an arena near the venue where the community’s New Yam festival, known as the ‘Nibo onwa asaa’ festival, was held.

The hoodlums were said to have emerged from a Lexus 300 jeep and opened fire on people having fun at the arena, located near the Oye Nwochichi Market, by Nibo Old Maternity, thereby killing eight persons instantly before proceeding to another location where other casualties were also recorded.

In a press statement on Monday, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, responded to the development, saying the state government was aware of the incident and had commenced steps to hunt down the perpetrators.

The statement said, “The Anambra State Government is aware of the deaths that resulted from alleged cult-related killings that occurred in Nibo, Awka South LG, on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

“This is just another instance of the kind of violent crimes linked to cults that have occurred recently, and the state government is determined to put an end to it.

“The government sympathises with the families of the deceased and assures them that the government will get to the root of the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.

“To this end, the government appeals to members of the public to avail it of any useful information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators, while assuring them of confidentiality and a handsome reward.”

Mefor urged law-abiding residents to go about their businesses without fear while the state government worked with security services to handle the incident.

He said hotlines for relaying this and related information will be made available to the public.

PUNCH