It was a festival of blood on Sunday in Nibo community and Nodu-Okpuno Village, both in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, when no fewer than 13 persons were killed in separate cult-related clashes across various sections of the communities..

An eyewitness in the community, Matthias Ugwoke, told our correspondent that the violence started when members of a rival cult group stormed a drinking bar where another suspected rival cult group was relaxing and immediately opened fire on them, killing about eight instantly.

The joint was said to be near Oye Nwochichi Market, by Nibo Old Maternity, not far from the venue of the New Yam festival.

This was further corroborated by a very gory video currently circulating on social media showing many dead lifeless bodies lying across various areas of the community.

A source who craved anonymity for fear of victimisation, said, “The hoodlums, numbering about five, stormed the bar in a brown coloured Lexus 300 Jeep and immediately opened fire on the people there, killing about eight people instantly.

“After carrying out their operation, they immediately zoomed off to Eke Nibo Market, where they also gunned down about five more people.

“Nibo is on fire. Several lifeless bodies have littered the roads. Some people were killed by stray bullets while some sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“The violence escalated this afternoon during the ‘Nibo Onwa Asaa’ festival and claimed other multiple casualties. We have counted over 13 dead bodies at various points of the road.”

He said everybody was running helter-skelter as gunshots were sounding everywhere, causing panic and chaos.