Nearly 300 persons have begun feared dead in Ahoada East and Ahoad West Local Government Areas even as thousands of people have  deserted the two local government areas, following the serial killings going on in the areas actuated by cult rivalry.
The Monarch, Eze Ekyeye Logbo, Eze Robinson O. Robinson, who disclosed this to The Tide, declared three days of mourning in Ekpeye and Ukpata kingdoms. The mourning ended yesterday.
Robinson, during the mourning, had urged Christians and non-Christians to put the kingdom into prayers, and enjoined the youth to pursue peace in the land.
According to him, the land has had enough of bloodshed, stressing that “we have lost over 300 persons”.
The monarch urged the restive youth to surrender their arms as their actions have brought negative impact on the economy and political growth of Ekpeye Kingdom.
‘’The restive youth should lay down their arms and embrace peace. They cannot fight government. They may be succeeding today, but when government descends on them, they may not withstand it’’, he said.
Our correspondents, who visited the Ahoada main town,  reports that the once busy city has been deserted, and is now a ghost town.
Few residences were seen while few commercial motorcycle operators were also seen plying the roads in the town.
Few residents, who refused to disclose their identities, revealed that some neighbouring towns like Ula Ukpata, Agbarukpo and Uloa have been deserted.
They complained that life in the area was no longer the same as it used to be before hoodlums invaded the area.
They also accused the police of not doing enough to end the killings in the area.