In the past few weeks, the people of Rivers state are living in perpetual fears following activities of various cult groups in the different parts of the state.
At least, eight persons were killed in separate attacks in Port Harcourt, River State, last week when a group of unidentified gunmen unleashed mayhem on the city.
It was gathered that five persons were killed at a popular bar in Amadi-Ama Roundabout around 11pm by armed men brandishing AK-47 rifles.
The incident caused confusion in the city as residents, who learnt about the shootings stayed indoors the following day.
We learnt that among those killed were a soldier and a lady, who were trying to escape from the troubled area before they were hit by a stray bullet.
Residents in Amadi-Ama area of Port Harcourt were jolted from their sleep by deafening sounds of gunshots made them to stay away till daybreak.
A resident of the area told our correspondent that three corpses were found at the scene of the shooting.
“The shooting started at about 11.20pm and we were all afraid when we heard the heavy sound of gunshots. Initially, we thought it was a shootout between the police and some armed robbers.
“We were told in the morning that five persons were killed and three of the bodies were left at the bar where the shooting took place till the following morning,” the resident, who identified himself as Augustine, added.
He said the area had since been deserted while security agents patrol the place to forestall a repeat of the ugly incident.
Similarly, three persons lost their lives while another one was seriously injured when two armed men attacked them at the Prime Rose Estate in Port Harcourt.
The victims, who were identified as Ibiyene, who sold local gin within the area, Maxwell and Ekaki, were reportedly shot at close range.
Speaking on the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, said the members of cult groups might have been responsible for the latest incidents of killing in Port Harcourt.
Mohammad urged residents to be at alert and call the police anytime they noticed strange movement within their areas, promising that the command would continue to embrace its responsibility of protecting lives and property. The recent killing brought the number of people killed by unknown gunmen in the past three weeks in Port Harcourt to 13.
Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party were killed in Akuku Toru just as the party accused its opponent, All Progressives Congress, of being responsible.
The two members of the PDP who were killed in their houses were identified as Goodfellow Bobmanuel and Ibima Olunta.
The APC had also blamed the PDP for the death of over 30 of its members in different parts of the state with the highest number coming from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
Also, a medical doctor, Samuel Okpara, who was kidnapped inside his private hospital by unknown gunmen died in the kidnappers’ den.
Okpara’s corpse, according to a source, was dumped by his abductors behind the Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri in Port Harcourt.
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