7 DEAD AS ASSASSINATION OF UNICAL LECTURER ALLEGED TO BE A CULTIST,SPARKS CULT WAR IN CALABAR

7 dead as assassination of UNICAL lecturer alleged to be a cultist, sparks cult war in Calabar  Thursday's assassination of a lecturer in the Department of Accounting, University of Calabar, Dr. Emmanuel Igbeng, by gunmen, few days after he bagged his PhD, has sparked cult war in Calabar, Cross River State. At least, 7 other persons have been killed within 3 days following the renewed clash between KKK and Vikings. Igbeng was shot at about 8.30pm on Thursday at the gate of his house located at Asuquo Abasi Street, off Uwanse Lane, Calabar. He was alleged to be a member of the KKK group. Although, the actual cause of the killings was not disclosed, it was learnt on Sunday, that the clash had left many injured.  A source said two other unidentified persons suspected to be members of the KKK group were also ambushed and killed on that same Thursday.  The source said, "On Friday, some members of the rival Vikings group stormed a popular hangout around Atekong Drive, off Marian Road at about 7pm and opened fire, killing at least two persons. The war started on Thursday night when a lecturer in the University of Calabar, Dr Emmanuel Igbeng, who is alleged to be a top member of one of the groups was shot dead in his house. At about 7pm on Friday, one of the rival cult groups stormed a popular joint at Atekong Drive and killed two persons. That same Friday night, one person was shot dead along Queen Duke Street."  He added, "Another was killed at Harcourt by Luggard Street. On Saturday morning, another person was shot dead at the popular Etim Edem Park, close to the Atakpa Police Division. We just got information that a boy was shot along White House Street, but he did not die. He managed to escape with gunshot wounds and has gone into hiding." Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in different parts of Calabar.