…5 Killed, Others Sustain Injuries
This year’s Valentine may have come and gone but not without some tale of woes for some lovebirds.
In Okporowo, Ogbakiri, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, some yet to be identified gunmen reportedly invaded an hotel in the community where Valentine celebrants were hanging out.
Five persons were reportedly killed in the incident which occurred about 9.30pm Friday, February 14.
Investigation revealed that the gunmen who stormed the hotel in search of their target believed to be seeking fun at the place, opened fire indiscriminately at guests when they could not trace the target.
A source who did not want his name in print claimed that the killing was due to power tussle between two factions of Deygbam cult group in the community.
The source said the two factions were fighting over who would be the leader in the community with the two factions supporting two different persons.
Travellers who were heading to Kalabari enroute Ogbakiri after the incident were consequently subjected to thorough search.
In the meantime, security personnel have been drafted to Ogbakiri to prevent total breakdown of law and order even as some natives have fled the community for fear of the unknown.
The spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, could not be reached despite efforts made and did not respond to text messages sent to him about the incident.
A youth from the community, Ambassador Prince Ihunwo confirmed the killing in a statement.
It would be recalled natives of the community lived in exile for over 10 years due to a communal war that engulfed the area in 2000 which claimed many lives and several houses destroyed.
