…One Beheaded, Another Shot
The people of Omerelu in Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State are now living in palpable fear following renewed cult war that led to the killing and beheading of one Anthony of Omuagwor clan on Saturday by suspected cultists .We learned that the hoodlums suspected to be Icelander cult group had stormed the family of the victim in search of his distant cousin alleged to be a member of rival ‘Deygbam’ cult group but could not find him.
Community sources revealed that the rampaging cultists shot Anthony a.k.a ‘Okaome’ as a warning signal to the distant cousin suspected to be member of Deygbam cult group.
We gathered that the Icelander cult member reported to be on revenge mission accused their rival of killing a member of their own group popularly called ‘Military’ who came on a visit from a neigbouring community.
In the meantime natives are fleeing the community to avoid being victims of renewed hostility. The spokesperson of Rivers State Police command and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Omoni Nnamdi did not respond to text messages sent to him neither did he pick calls put to his mobile lines.
Omerelu community had witnessed cult related violence since the beginning of this year. The violence had also led to arson attack on the compound of Professor Blessing Didia, former Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University(RSU) and alleged killing of not less than seven persons.
In the same vein, suspected cultists invaded Ubima community in Ikwerre local Government area last Wednesday burning houses and shooting sporadically. Mr. Paul Amadi, one time Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) confirmed to National Network that his younger brother Samuel Amadi was shot by the rampaging cultists but was lucky to have escaped being killed. He said his brother is not a cultist as he was shot without provocation.
The Paramount Ruler of Ubima community, Iheanyi Prince Williams in his reaction blamed a company domiciled in the community and security operatives for the cult war.
He explained that the company brought in security operatives to fish out killers of three of their staff who were ambushed and killed by unknown gunmen.
According to the Monarch, the security operatives who could not find the suspects allegedly engaged in burning of the family houses of hoodlums suspected to have carried out the killings.
He revealed that cultists invaded the community the next day after the security operatives had left and unleashed terror on the natives as they accused the community of bringing in security operatives to destroy their houses.
