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Tag: Rivers community

  • LG chairman places N30m bounty on killers of 25 residents in Rivers community

    LG chairman places N30m bounty on killers of 25 residents in Rivers community

    The Emohua Local Government Area in Rivers State has placed a bounty of N30million on cult leaders and their sponsors responsible for the gruesome killings in Obelle community.

    A supremacy war by two cult groups in the area had led to killings of over 25 indigenes of Obelle with majority of the victims said to be innocent residents of the area.

    The cult groups and their leaders killed seven people on Thursday last week, four on Friday and 10 on Saturday during bloody encounters that dislocated the community.

    The entire community had been deserted as residents abandoned their ancestral homes to seek refuge in other areas.

    Most of the fleeing residents reportedly ran to secure their lives in Elele where they slept under trees and in open places with their belongings.

    Rattled by the unchallenged violence in the community, the Executive Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Mr. David Omereji led a team to the community on Tuesday.

    It was learnt that apart from the team that followed the chairman to the area, nobody was on ground to receive Omereji, who was visibly angry that hoodlums had sacked the entire village.

    Omereji immediately pronounced an award of N30million for anybody, who could provide useful hints on the whereabouts of the killers and their sponsors.

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    Though the chairman did not mention any name of the cult leaders, he said it was time to end the bloodshed and return peace to Obelle.

    The Chairman also begged the fleeing residents of the area to return home promising that henceforth there would no longer be cult clashes in the community.

    Omereji said it was barbaric that it the 21st century, some people would enter a community and shed blood adding that he would rather resign that see such incident continue in the area.

    He said: “It is pathetic that in this modern society some hoodlums whatever they call themselves will create an unrest that will lead to loss of lives and properties of the people. 

    “We have sworn an oath to safeguard the lives and properties of the people and Obelle is one of the communities that falls under the wards in Emohua Local Government Area. Tell your people to return back home. 

    “No individual can be bigger than the government. No matter how stubborn a man maybe, the government will still put an end to his nonsense. I can assure you, this is the end of unrest in Obelle.

    “Emohua government is putting a bounty of N30m for anybody who has useful information that will lead to the arrest of these criminals who came to shed blood in this community. We want these people arrested within 72 hours. Anything that affects Obelle could be duplicated at Iba and it will trigger to other areas”.

     The chairman commended security agencies for their efforts and sacrifices since the violence started in the area.

    He said: “We will do everything possible as a local government to stop this nonsense.  What will anybody gain. You came and killed people. I would rather resign as a chairman than to see these people continue again.

    “The police can’t work without information. How can rif-rafs cause fear all over the place? I will be here everyday to ensure that those behind these acts are apprehended. Everybody has deserted this community in the name of one cult or the other. What are they dragging. Enough is enough”.

  • Nwuche: stop renewed killings in Rivers community

    Nwuche: stop renewed killings in Rivers community

    Former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, has condemned renewed violence in Ekpeye, Rivers State, where seven people have been killed in Edeoha and Ihuwo in cult-related violence.

    Addressing stakeholders and leaders from political parties, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), who visited his home in Port Harcourt, Nwuche decried recurring violence in the region.

    The delegation, led by Benjamin Eke and Eric Apia, discussed the situation with the former deputy speaker.

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    Nwuche lamented that Ekpeye has made headlines for unfortunate reasons, recalling the killing of former Ahoada Divisional Police Officer, Bako Amgbashim, by cult leader, 2baba, and his gang.

    He noted that efforts by security agencies led to elimination of the culprits and temporary return of normalcy.

    Nwuche regretted that Ekpeye has returned to mindless killings, saying youths should abandon cultism, reject violence, and be productive.

    He called on monarchs, local leaders, and elite in Ekpeye to stand against violence, which has deepened hardship faced by residents, who rely on peace to trade and farm.

    He urged security agencies to intervene, apprehend the culprits, and restore order.

  • Suspected cultists kill four in Rivers community

    Suspected cultists kill four in Rivers community

    Suspected cultists have killed four residents in Edeoha community, located in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The attackers, believed to be members of the Iceland cult group, reportedly invaded the community around 2 a.m. on Sunday, armed with weapons.

    According to reports, the gunmen went door-to-door in search of their targets, causing widespread panic among residents.

    A community source, who spoke anonymously, said the motive for the attack remains unclear.

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    He said: “The whole community was in confusion when they came and started shooting. Three of those killed are natives of Edeoha while the other one is native of Ekata community still in Aboada East LGA but resides in Edeoha.

    ” The suspected Iceland cult members who carried out the killing came from a camp in a neighbouring community to carry out the overnight killing at Edeoha.

    “The people killed are not cult members but the attacked is believed to have been carried out by cultists who may have been paid to eliminate the four residents over some unclear issues.”

    When contacted, spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident, saying investigation was ongoing. 

    Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said: “Yes I can confirm. It is cult related. 

    “The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Mustapha has directed the Ahoada Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officerto commence investigation into the incident with a view to apprehending the perpetrators and make  them face justice.”

  • One dead, nine arrested, as vigilantes, protesters clash in Rivers community

    One dead, nine arrested, as vigilantes, protesters clash in Rivers community

    About nine persons including members of a local vigilante group have been nabbed by the police for their alleged involvement in shooting and killing a man identified as Oregi in Egbeda community, Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    It was learnt that the deceased, who hailed from Omuipo clan, also in Egbeda community and others embarked on a protest march on Friday over the choice of a particular Community Liaison Officer to a construction company handling the Egbeda-Elele Road Construction.

    A source in the community, who spoke in confidence, said that the youth were reportedly warned by the local vigilant group called OSPAC to abstain from the protest but that they decided to go against the border.

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    He said while the protest was ongoing, some of the OSPAC members intercepted them at Egbeda roundabout and appealed to them to stop, but the youths were adamant saying they had the right to peaceful demonstration.

    He said:  “They (protesters) even carried a casket to the company premises but left after some money was given to them.

    “But instead of stopping the protests they started marching round the Egbeda community singing war songs that warranted the OSPAC to confront them.

    “In the process the OSPAC Commander got angry and opened fire on the protesters.

    “That was how Oregi was hit by a bullet resulting in his death. Oregi is a young man from the Omuipo community. Some of the other protesters received injuries from the gunshots.”

    Contacted, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the death and the arrest, saying investigation was ongoing. Iringe-Koko said: “Yes I can confirm the incident. Nine persons have been arrested, the OSPAC Commander included. They are suspects in the death of the young man. “The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.”

  • Three feared killed by cult suspects in Rivers community

    Three feared killed by cult suspects in Rivers community

    Suspected members of Greenland cult have allegedly attacked and killed three persons in Olokuma community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The victims are reportedly loyalists of a cult leader whose real name could not be ascertained, but is fondly known as ‘general crocodile’.

    The incident was said to have happened at Olokuma community, Saturday night of April 20.

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    The victims were earlier reported kidnapped and later killed. Their killers allegedly made away with their bodies. One of the bodies has however been retrieved by their gang members, while efforts to recover the other two are on.

    A source from the community, who pleaded for anonymity, said the attack could be a reprisal.

    Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko promised to get back on confirmation and comments.

  • Rivers community gets free medicare

    It was a week of joy when 3,853 residents of Bakana community in Rivers State received free medical services at a five-day medical mission conducted by the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation.

    The outreach, the 32nd by the Foundation,  tackled  health challenges in rural and semi-urban areas across the Niger Delta by giving access to quality medical services.

    Clinics included pediatrics, optometry/ophthalmology, dental, physiotherapy and surgery. Treatments included 156 Dental, 165 Physiotherapy, 113 surgeries, of which 56 were herniorrhaphy and 43 eye surgeries.

    1. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation Chairman, Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs, recalled that High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs, who the Foundation was named after, believed in abundant life.

    She said: “In 2014, during the inauguration of one of the many health facilities, High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs supported in his lifetime, he stated: ‘Even if it is just one life we can save, or one person’s pain we can alleviate, it is a good beginning. And the more people and organisations that can provide similar services, the more people we can help collectively’.

    “Working in partnership with other organsations in the government, non-government, private sector, and academic sectors is one of the secrets to our success. The power of strategic collective engagement on common issues, as espoused by Dr. O. B. Lulu-Briggs, is demonstrated and affirmed by the cooperation which has made this medical mission possible. We would like to use this opportunity to invite you all to join forces with us on this or any of our other initiatives.”

    Mrs. Lulu-Briggs was represented at the mission by the Foundation’s Director of Programmes, Mrs. Ineba Ideriah Tongkam. The Bakana Medical Missions Team comprises 150 medical and 20 non-medical volunteers, including a team lead by Dr. Sobomabo Lawson from the Kalabari National Association Inc, United States, who partnered the Foundation on the mission.

    Lawson said: “The Kalabari National Association is grateful to the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation and other supporting bodies for bringing succour to the people of Bakana town.”

    Prof Victor Dappa thanked the Foundation for its continuous support to the community and others across the Niger Delta.

    Michael Braide, one of the patients, appreciated the Foundation for helping the needy.

    In addition to its medical missions, the Foundation has, among others, donated a N50 million Health Centre to the University of Port Harcourt. It also funded research on Parkinson’s Disease to the Rochester Research Institute in New York and to the Virginia Keiley Benefaction of the University College Hospital London.

    In partnership with specialists, the Foundation also carried out campaigns on the following non-communicable diseases: Parkinson’s disease (2010), Prostate Cancer (2016), Kidney Disease and Diabetes (2018).

     

  • Eight feared killed as suspected cultists attack Rivers community

    Eight persons were feared killed yesterday in Rivers State, following early morning’s invasion of a community by armed youths, suspected to be cultists.

    An eyewitness account said the gunmen stormed Mgbuodohia community in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government, killing eight persons and injuring others.

    The Chairman of Rumuolumeni Community Development Committee, (CDC), Sunny Odum, confirmed the figure, expressing sadness about the invasion.

    He said eight persons were killed in the attack, describing it as strange.

    But the police said three persons were killed.

    Sources said a cult invaded the community yesterday morning in search of members of a rival cult.

    They said the hoodlums moved from house to house in search of their targets and in the process fished out and killed eight of them.

    The incident caused panic in the area, forcing residents to desert the place for fear of reprisal.

    The CDC chairman urged residents to return to their homes, remain calm and go about their activities.

    He said security operatives were on top of the matter and would arrest the attackers.

    Speaking to The Nation on the phone, command’s spokesman Nnamdi Omoni said some people have been nabbed and are helping the police in their investigations.

    “It was a cult fight and as at the time I got report from Rumuolumeni Police Division today (yesterday), only three persons were confirmed dead, while several others, who sustained gunshot injuries, are being treated at hospitals.

    “Some persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and are helping the police in their investigations.” he said.

    Omoni appealed to residents, who have deserted their homes, to return, assuring them that peace has been restored.

     

  • Hoodlums kill two soldiers in Rivers community

    Hoodlums at the weekend killed two soldiers in Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    A Lieutenant was killed in gunfire with thugs during the February 23 elections.

    Sources said the soldiers, who were part of the troops stationed to maintain peace in Abonnema, were shot at the Obonoma-Abonnema junction.

    Deputy Director of Public Relations, 6 Division, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, could not be reached for comments as at last night.

    The Coalition of Governorship Candidates and Party Chairmen (CGCPC) has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of acquiring and distributing illegal arms and ammunition ahead of Saturday’s election.

    At a news conference yesterday, Chairman of CGCPC Pastor Warigbani Zebulun, and Secretary Chibuzor Anele, called on security chiefs to call Wike to order.

    They said: “We dissociate ourselves from the concocted, misguided and shameful endorsement of Wike as sole governorship candidate by a purported coalition of 58 political parties. Such endorsement is watery and belated.

    “Discreet information tells us that the PDP-led government has acquired illegal arms and ammunition, and has distributed them to the councils, to scuttle the March 9 elections. We call on the police and sister agencies to act fast to arrest and prosecute the culprits.

    But Wike, through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, denied stockpiling arms and ammunition.

    He said: “Ordinarily, we do not waste our time responding to watery outbursts by paper tigers. The news conference was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC), using two parties that exist only in brief cases to divert attention from the quagmire they have fallen into, and the loss they suffered in the hands of the PDP.

    “We do not query individuals’ rights to dissent, but democracy is about numbers. Just two persons, who claim to be leaders of two political parties without office in any part of the state, cannot be taken more seriously than 57 political parties that endorsed Governor Nyesom Wike a few days ago. Therefore, they have failed on arrival.

    “The people know those who are stocking arms and ammunition to unleash mayhem on innocent residents. But PDP assures them that they will fail again, as they failed before. If they want to be taken seriously, they should tell Nigerians how many votes their parties scored in last Saturday’s elections.”

  • Court upholds Rivers community’s right to appoint head

    The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has held that the Rumu-Amadi Wocha Nkpor Zurunha royal family retains the right to appoint or elect the head of the Rumuehienwo Village of Eledo Community, Rukpokwu town in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

    Justice E. Teetito held that the title of the village’s chief “has been and is still Eze Nkpokwu of Rumuehienwo Eledo Rumunkpor”.

    He delivered a verdict in a chieftaincy action  filed by elders Kenneth Amadi, Emmanuel Amadi, Harold Amadi and Mr Princewill Amadi for themselves and the royal family’s behalf.

    They sued the Eze Nkpokwu III of Rumuehienwo Village, Chief Jacob Amadi.

    The plaintiffs sought a declaration that the title “Eze Chimemeru III” is alien to the community.

    Among others, they sought a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from parading himself as Eze Chimemeru III of Rumuehienwo Nkpor, but as Eze Nkpokwu III.

    They also prayed the court to hold that duties of the Eze Nkpokwu do not conflict with those of the family head family and elders of the three family units.

    The judge held: “From my assessment of evidence of the parties, that of the claimants is more probable to belief than that of the defendant.

    “I, therefore, believe the evidence of the claimants and hold that neither Rumu Amadi Wocha Nkpor Zuru Nha Royal Family nor Rumue-hienwo has any chieftaincy title called Eze Chimemeru. The only title for the chief of Rumuehienwo is Eze Nkpokwu,” the judge held.

    He granted a perpetual restraining order against Chief Amadi as the Eze Chimemeru III.

    “Rumu Amadi Wocha Nkpor Zuru Nha royal family is headed by a family head and the said family is sub-divided into three family branches, each unit headed by an elder,” the judge added.

  • Eight killed as gunmen invade Rivers community

    Eight killed as gunmen invade Rivers community

    •Council chief bans Okada 

    GUNMEN suspected to be members of rival cult groups, on Sunday night, killed eight persons at Omoku Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of Rivers State.
    The bandits reportedly invaded the community at 9 pm and killed their targets.
    The suspected cultists were said to have coordinated their attacks in three streets.
    A source, who spoke in confidence, said most of those who fled before the attack, had returned.
    A resident, who narrowly escaped the attack, Chief Ezegohuru Chukudi Eluozo, said the incident caused panic and grounded Christmas celebration in the town.
    Eluozo said eight people died in the incident.
    The community leader blamed the attack on politicians.
    He said the attack was politically motivated, adding that cultists were empowered by a political party during the recent rerun.
    Another source, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “About  9 pm, I was sitting with a friend when we heard gunshots. As usual, people started running for safety. I ran into them as I was heading for my house.
    “They (attackers) put on military uniform and were heavily armed. They shot from every direction. All those who came out that night to celebrate Christmas ran back to their houses.
    “In the morning, I took a walk round the area and I confirmed seven bodies. Two Hausa men, who may have been hit by stray bullets, were among the dead. A member of the Joint Security Task Force was among them.
    “We don’t know the actual cause of the attack, but we heard the cult boys were angry that the state government settled a cult group and abandoned the others. They vowed not to stop the attacks until the government compensated them.”
    But the police command said it was not aware of the incident.
    Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni said he would speak whenever he got the brief from the district police officer (DPO) in ONELGA.
    Also, ONELGA Caretaker Committee Chairman Osi Olisa has banned commercial motorcycle operation, locally called Okada, in the area.
    In a statement, the caretaker chairman advised operators to desist from commercial activities between 7 pm and 7 am
    The statement noted that the action of the ONELGA council chief became necessary because of the security situation in the area.
    The statement warned that anybody violating the ban will be penalised.