Four persons have been reportedly killed in renewed violence by suspected cultists in Ahoada East Local Government Area.
Community sources told newsmen that the commotion caused by the shooting only calmed when the police from the Ahoada East Police Division led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) arrived the scene and gave the hoodlums a hot chase.
The sources believed that for the timely arrival of the police even as the cultists would have overrun the town, there were still Police patrols in and around Ahoada as at Sunday.
Reacting to the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe Koko disclosed that the shooting was as a result of cult clash between two cult groups.
SP Koko disclosed that two of the dead cultists, Azhinibudu Biko, aged 35 years, and Gboka Odoi, aged 37 years are notorious criminals terrorizing the Ahoada section of the East West road and its environs. SP Koko gave the name of the third cultist who died in the shootout as John Ode.
SP Koko further added that efforts were on to arrest the fleeing members of the gang.
Also gunmen suspected to be cultists last week Wednesday shot dead one, Ebenezer Matthew, President of Abarikpo community in Akoh kingdom,Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The killing is coming less than three months after gunmen suspected to be cultist gang raped Mrs, Chigbewejim Lawyer, wife of Pastor to death in the community.
In an interview with our reporter, Comrade Ekeakita Hector Chinem, Public Relations Officer of Akoh Youth Congress, Ahoada East LGA said “Yes it is true that Comrade Mathew Erbenezer was shot dead yester-night in his home town, in his father’s compound. The only thing I know about Matthew is that, he is not somebody that condones illegality.
Mr. Chinem called on the security agencies and the Political leaders to beef up security in Ekpeye land not to just stay and allow poor masses to die. He also called on the DPO, the Area Commander, the JTF Commander and the two Local Government Chairmen of Ahoada East and Ahoada West and the Paramount rulers to come to the aid of poor masses in Ekpeye land before the thing turn to 2016 matter”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police command, SP Grace Iringe Koko confirmed the incident.
