Murder of community leader: youths go on rampage

*As police arrest 3
*Residents desert community

The gruesome killing of a community leader, Chief Minikwu Chukwu, in Oro-Akwor community at Mgboshimini community of Ruemueme, in Obio/Akpor local government area, Rivers state, over the weekend has triggered off a spate of violence by some youths in the area who have resorted to burning down the houses of the suspected assassins.

The victim of the gruesome killing, who is a prominent community leader, met his doom Saturday evening on his way to a meeting of the council of chiefs in the area when he was accosted as he stepped out of his compound by four unknown gunmen who shot him severally and fled to an unknown destination.

Following the killing, the aggrieved youths went on rampage burning down the houses of the suspects as many community members, particularly non-indigenes, fled the area for fear of reprisal attacks.

The news of Chief Chukwu’s assassination sparked the wave of protests in Mgousimini community, spreading to Ruemueme up to the Agip Area of Mile 4, in Port Harcourt. Sources within the community said residents who are non-indigenes of the community have been packing out of the area for fear of being cut in a crossfire of reprisal attacks.

As at the time of filing in this report, three people have already been confirmed dead from stray bullets from the shooting while several others were still in an undisclosed hospital receiving treatment for various degrees of injuries.

One of the witnesses of the shooting, told journalists that Chief Chukwu was shot at close-range by his assailants in his family compound as he stepped out to attend a community meeting in the evening. The source said that Chief Chukwu was shot five times at close range by the assailants who escaped after they confirmed that their victim was dead.

The source recalled that “the gunmen first shot him in the chest. He then ran to one boy’s house where he fell down, but they pursued him and used the gun on his head and chest. The men were carrying AK-47 and Pump Action Rifles.

“They shot him five times: head, chest, ear, stomach and leg. They confirmed him dead before they left. These guys have been doing this for sometime now. They come into this community with several guns. I don’t know who gives them the guns. All I am saying is that we need justice.

“These guys need to be arrested for peace to reign if not they will continue to terrorise innocent people in the community. Already, they said that they are coming back. They said that they are not through with their mission. We need justice,” the source stated.

Meanwhile, a combined team of police detachment consisting of Mobile Police men, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS); Anti-Cultism Unit and Central Investigation Department (CID), and soldiers have all been deployed to Oro-Akwor, Mgboshimini, Ruemueme and around the Mile 4, area of Obio/Akor local government area.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP. Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident stated that three persons have been arrested by the police and are helping with on-going investigations. “They are helping the police to unravel the real sponsors of the killing and the motive behind dastardly act,” he said.

Many groups now, including one known as the New Rivers Vision, has condemned the assassination of the community leader by unknown gunmen. The Coordinator of the group, Mr. Chimse Ihunwon, has appealed to the security agencies to intensify security in the community.

“The killing of Chief Chukwu has heightened tension in the community. People are now leaving in fear. I am calling on the Police and security agencies to do the need full to bring the situation to normalcy,” the community leader pleaded.