A TWENTY-eight-year-old man, identified simply as Ukeoma, has been beheaded in Mgbuitanwo community of Emohua Local Government of Rivers State.
The incident occurred barely 48 hours to tomorrow’s legislative rerun elections.
Another resident, identified simply as Eruchi, was abducted, despite the presence of security agencies.
Both incidents have caused panic among residents, who told our reporter that similar killings occurred before and during last year’s general election.
Eruchi was said to have been taken to an unknown place.
The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose home town was invaded by the suspected cultists, Andrew Uchendu, said Ukeoma’s killing was a cult-related incident.
He emphasised that it had nothing to do with politics.
Uchendu said: “Nobody should connect what happened in my area with politics; it is far from it. To be frank, it has nothing to do with politics. It is purely a cult-related issue. The residents are aware that those involved are cultists.
“While we mourn, voters will not be disturbed. They will still come out on Saturday to vote because the cult activities have been there for a long time. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has no supporters in my area. So, it is not politically-motivated.”
An eyewitness, Nwoka James, told our reporter that some suspected cultists entered the community in what was suspected to be a reprisal.
The hoodlums reportedly killed Ukeoma and abducted Eruchi.
Nwoka said: “As I am talking with you, people are running away from this community. I don’t think anybody will vote on Saturday with what has just happened.
“They operated here for about 45 minutes. There was no security in the area to stop them. Even some youths, who the community thought would have rescued the victims, ran away when they saw the weapons the hoodlums carried.”
A Port Harcourt resident, Mr. Paul Ndunaka, urged other residents to be careful and remain alert.
He noted that the bitterness among the state’s political leaders could lead to more deaths before Saturday.
Ndunaka said: “We are afraid. I know many people are also afraid in the state. You can see people making last-minute shopping. The atmosphere is tense and you don’t expect people to make careless movements. Don’t forget last year’s experience.”
Another resident, Mrs. Mercy Amadi, said: “What happened during the last general election in the state was enough to make us careful. I am afraid and I don’t want to die. Look at what happened today, where a young man was beheaded, and you said I should not be afraid.”