Cultists kill 13 persons in Rivers community

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

No less than 13 persons were confirmed been killed by unknown gunmen suspected to be cultists at Ugboshimini-Agip waterfront community, around the market Square, Ruememe, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State early Monday morning.

The gunmen were said to have invaded the community around 3:0am and opened fire on the unsuspecting residents who were still fast asleep.
Meanwhile the police is working tirelessly to unravel the mystery surrounding the killings.

Earlier on Friday night in the same community, two friends identified as Godspower Aligbo known as popularly known as ‘Koko’ and his friend Dickson Gogo were at Koko’s house around 9pm eating in the same community when gunmen struck and killed them.

The mother of Godspower said her son and his friend, Dickson had just returned home from the burial of one of their relations. “My son Godspower and his friend Dickson just came back after organising the burial of a relation. They were eating when the gunmen stormed the house and shot at them repeatedly. They again brought out their machetes and inflicted several matchete cuts on them before fleeing the area.” She insisted that her son, Godspower, who is 43 years old with three children, was not a cultist.

She continued: “I was eating and was pressed, so I left the food for my grandchildren who were also eating with me and entered my bedroom to use the toilet. While in the toilet, I heard gunshots, but I thought it was the Police that was on patrol. I came out of the toilet, but my grandchildren pushed me back, shouting: ‘mummy, go back inside they will kill you. They will kill you. When I opened the door after the gunshots had ceased, I saw my son and his friend in pool of blood.”

The Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incidents, said Policemen had been drafted to the community. He stated that the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Zaki, has ordered an investigation into the bloodbath at Ugboshimini. About 10 Police operational vehicles were seen stationed at strategic spots at the Ugboshimini-Agip waterfront, Rumueme where the killings took place.

Reacting to the development, the Rivers State Government condemned the killing of some innocent persons in Ngbuoshimini in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State by gunmen who came through the waters and has directed the police and security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous act at all cost.

This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt Monday by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barr. Emma Okah.

Charging the security agencies, the statement said, “The State Government is ready to spare nothing to support the security agencies get these killers irrespective of where they are found. Even in their holes, smoke them out from there and you should have no rest until we get to the end of the case, until we see justice” the statement added, noting that Rivers State will not give in to criminals and their sponsors.

According to the statement, the Rivers State Government commiserates with the families of the deceased and promise that this case will not be accepted.

“This sad incident underscores the stand of Rivers State Government that security and crime prevention is the concern of everybody and should not be politicized so that the state can grow. A moment like this calls for a collective effort on the part of all.”

The statement further added that this sudden breakdown of security architecture was a fallout of the activities of some politicians in Eleme Local Government Area at the weekend where over one thousand policemen and other security agents as well as some Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) were redeployed from their duty posts.

The Rivers State Government called on the public to stand up and cooperate with the police and other security agencies in their duties.

“Rivers State Government will continue to give the security agencies all the support they require to ensure the security of our state and reduce incidents of crime, he said, adding that to whom much is giving, much is expected.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, said it should not surprise anyone that despite the huge efforts security agencies were making towards stamping out crime in Rivers State more dastardly killings were taking place every now and then.