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Rivers State Governor Barr Nyesom Wike receiving CDS Olonishakin and
the Military High Command in Government House in Port Harcourt recently
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The 2 Brigade of the
Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has stated that cult clashes in
Rivers have assumed an alarming dimension and a source of security concern in
the state.
The
Nation report continues:
The
Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Capt. Eli Lazarus, stated
this Tuesday night in Port Harcourt, declaring that further attacks by cultists
on any Rivers community would be met with full military action.
He
reiterated that in the past few days, cult clashes were recorded in communities
in Ikwerre and Emuoha Local Government Areas of the state, with many
deaths recorded.
Lazarus
said: “Among these deaths are some of our (Army) personnel, who were part of
the team that responded to distress calls to prevent the situation from further
degenerating.
“Preliminary
investigation revealed that these barbaric and condemnable acts were cult wars
of dominance between Icelanders and other cult groups. This is seemingly
motivated by the quest for economic advantage, suspected to be connected to oil
theft and illegal bunkering.
“The
cultists are hereby warned to surrender their arms and turn away from their
evil ways. I wish to state unequivocally that any such attacks on any community
will be met with full military action. The viciousness and bestiality displayed
by these cultists in killing their rivals have no place in any civilised
society.
“The
level of violence and carnage recorded in the past few days must be eschewed
and denounced by all peace-loving and law-abiding people of Rivers State. Those
involved must never be allowed to go unpunished.”
The
2 Brigade’s spokesman also stated that youths must be guided to save them from
self-destruction, while urging parents and guardians to warn their children and
wards against belonging to or associating with any cult group, while declaring
that anyone caught would not be spared.
He
also solicited information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of
the heinous crimes and their patrons.
Lazarus assured that all information volunteered would be treated as confidential, while urging Rivers people to remain calm and go about their lawful activities, assuring that security agencies would continue to work assiduously and make sacrifices in the performance of their constitutional roles and relate with all well-meaning citizens to identify the criminal groups and bring them to justice.
FOR THE RECORD: All Is Not Well In Rivers
State, Doctors, Residents Cries Out For Help On Insecurity
Vanguard
reports that all is not well in the garden city of Port Harcourt as persons suspected
to be cultists at Ula-Upata in the Ahoada East Local Government Area murdered
about ten persons in cold blood.
Frank
Alabi, a resident of the area narrated to the Vanguard how the mindless killers
operated that black Wednesday. According to him, he was sleeping in his room
when suddenly he was woken up by gunshots. “This was about 12.05 am because I
looked at the time as I peeped from my window and saw about five men heavily
armed,” he explained.
According
to him, three of the men had AK 47 riffle while the other two carried Pump
Action. “I sensed they were evil men and quickly sneaked out of the room and
fled into the bush,” Alabi said, adding that from where he hid himself in a
nearby bush, he monitored every move and action of the killers, how they went
round the community murdering people in cold blood.
“First
I called the Police before I called the JTF in Ahoada. The assassins operated
for close to one hour unchallenged,” he alleged.
For
Alabi, it was a clear case of sponsored assassination. “From what I saw in the
bush, I believe they were paid assassins, not cultists as alleged by the
Police,” he said,
Another
community source who simply gave his name as Kingdom said the rampaging
cultists also extended their chilling act to Ubeta, Ihubuluko, Oyigba and Ogoda
communities where they killed about seven more persons, thus making the number
of those murdered that night alone about seventeen. Continuing, he said that
while the assassins were busy murdering their targets in cold blood, vigilante
groups in several communities quickly mounted barricades at some points which
resulted in the arrest of one of the assassins who was later handed over to
security agencies.
However,
the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad confirmed the
death of eight persons when contacted for comment on the ugly development.
According to him, it was largely a fall out of a cult-related crisis.
“The
incident was more of cult related heinous activity at Ula Upata community,
Ahoada East Local Government Area. Eight persons were killed. Quick
intervention by our men stalled the situation from escalating. One of the
suspected cultists was arrested and an English pump action gun recovered from
him. Investigation is right now ongoing,” he said.
Former
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche wept as he
spoke to newsmen on the sad incident. He charged the Police and other security
operatives to do more to secure lives and properties in the area.
Traditional
ruler of Ekpeye land, His Majesty, Eze Robinson O. Robinson also lamented the
upsurge of cult- related killings and crime in the area. He said about 56
persons have so far been murdered in cold blood in cult related circumstances
while the hoodlums have kidnapped about 40 persons.
Ahoada
metropolis is taking the lead. Our social life has been crippled,” he said.
According
to the monarch the security situation had become so bad that women avoided their
farms for fear of being raped by the hoodlums.
“Our
wives are being raped by these miscreants in the presence of their husbands.
Our daughters were also abused by these criminals. In fact, our women no longer
go to farms to fetch food but whenever they do they go in groups for fear of
rapists and cultists who have invaded our bushes.” the traditional ruler said.
The
monarch who appealed for increased security presence in communities in the
area enjoined communities in his domain to unite against the senseless acts of
cultism ruining the area. “I invite you all to join me in the battle against
criminality. Join me to protect lives and properties of our people,” he said
Cultists
kill another three in Isiokpo: The dust generated by the callous killing in Ahoada
East had hardly settled down when suspected cultists again stormed Isiokpo,
headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area, killing three persons.
Eye
witnesses said the rampaging killers shot dead three persons unchallenged
before they fled. The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad
confirmed the ugly development but said details were sketchy when he was
contacted. The killers who allegedly set houses ablaze, were said to have
operated in military uniform.
Doctors
protest incessant kidnap: Still on the insecurity, members of the Nigerian
Medical Association, NMA Rivers State chapter have protested frequent abduction
of their members. Marching peacefully on the streets in Port Harcourt to
denounce incessant kidnap of their members by hoodlums, the doctors said they
were worried because they (doctors) have become target for abduction.
The
protesting doctors assembled at the premises of the Department of State
Security on Forces Avenue in Port Harcourt, displaying several placards with
inscriptions condemning attacks on their members in various hospitals. They
were also joined by the Rivers State chapter of the Civil Liberties Organization.
Dr.
Ibitorukuemi Kurubo who spoke to newsmen during the protest said 11 of their
members were taken hostage within one month, adding that 21 of them were taken
hostage last year.
The doctors enjoined security agencies in the state to secure their lives. They also marched peacefully to the headquarters of the Rivers State Police command on Moscow Road. The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Musa Kimo expressed sympathy over the plight of the doctors, assuring that the police will continue to do its best to guarantee their safety.
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