…60 Persons Killed
…Soldiers Talk Tough
Despite the efforts of the government of Rivers State under the leadership of Chief Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike to curb the nonsense and useless activities of hoodlums in the state, criminals are still terrorizing the different sections of the Rivers State, especially villages and rural communities.
Governor Wike upon assumption of office procured no fewer than sixty-five (65) vehicles to aid security agents to tackle insecurity in the state. Of recent while addressing the people of the state, Governor Wike promised adequate security of lives and property in Rivers State. He said that his administration will not condone any form of hooliganism, and vowed to get rid of the state cultism.
Inspite Wike’s strong stance against cultism, violence and killing, some hopeless bad boys are bent to truncate the governor’s efforts of ensuring effective security across the twenty-three local government areas of the state.
Due to the unholy activities of the cultists, residents of Rivers State are now living in perpetual fear. No day passes without killing, violence or destruction in Rivers State. The people of the state are now passing through terrible fears, pains, crises and panic. The state is no longer safe for businesses to drive and blossom.
Thieves are everywhere, carting away peoples properties and valuable.
Criminals in Rivers State further condescend themselves to steal pots of soup, loaves of bread, roasted and fried yams, plantain, biscuits, amongst others.
Besides these hungry thieves, innocent people are dying everyday though the relentless indiscriminate shooting and violence in the State.
In the past few days, the state is not at peace, because of cult clashes in the different communities that claimed no fewer than sixty (60) lives.
As a result of this renewed cult war, several communities have been deserted.
Meanwhile, The leadership of Aluu clan in Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State has confirmed the killing of seventeen people in the area by suspected cultists during the weekend.
The chairman of Ogbakor Aluu Gashion Benson who confirmed this to our correspondent said the cultists stormed the area riding on motorcycles and shooting sporadically.
He said the gunmen raided six communities of the Aluu clan killing seventeen people and injuring many others.
He said most of those killed and injured were innocent people and were caught by stray bullets of the cultists.
The chairman of Ogbakor Aluu, Gashion Benson also said the gunmen killed nine people in Omagwa and Isiokpo communities including two naval officers and a police inspector while fleeing from Aluu community.
Gashion Benson also said the identities of the gunmen and the motive behind the attacks have not been ascertained.
However, the Chief Whip of the Rivers State House of Assembly and lawmaker representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency Evans Bipi has condemned the renewed communal clash between the people of Wakama Community in Ogu/Bolo local government and their Kporghor neighbours in Tai local government.
Evans Bipi told our correspondent that two people were killed in Wakama Community and properties destroyed during a clash between the two communities last week.
He appealed to the people of Wakama Community not to retaliate the killings as security agencies are already investigating the matter.
Evans Bipi also assured the people of Wakama community of improved security in the area to forestall further clashes.
The National Association of Nigeria Students NANS Zone B has condemned the attack on students dominated communities in Aluu by suspected cultists.
The Director Campus Mobilization of NANS Nwala Chetam Theary told our reporter that most students residing in the affected communities scampered for safety while some have injured during the attack.
He said some students are still unaccounted for as a result of the shooting
The director campus mobilization of NANS Nwala Chetam Theary also called for improved security in Aluu communities.
In a related vein, a commercial bus has been ambushed and hijacked by suspected kidnappers operating along Kalabari-Ogbakiri-Emohua road in Rivers State.
The driver of the ill-fated bus was conveying six persons, including two other drivers, from Buguma to Port Harcourt, when the vehicle came under attack.
The Newswriter gathered that some drivers were seen at the Abali Motor Park around Mile One area of Port Harcourt after the bus failed to arrive at the destination.
One of the park officials also confirmed that some of the passengers were later released by the kidnappers.
The Chairman of the Community Development Coordinating Committee in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, has also confirmed the hijacking of the commercial bus traveling from Buguma to Port Harcourt.
He said the bus was intercepted at Israel-Ama junction by the hoodlums, who took away all the passengers, including the driver.
Moreso, the Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of some of its personnel in the cult war in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State over the weekend.
The slain soldiers were part of a team that responded to distress calls to prevent the situation from degenerating further.
The Army observed that the issue of cult clashes in Rivers State had assumed an alarming dimension and became a source of security concern in the State.
The Acting Director of Army Public Relations of Two Amphibious Brigade in Port Harcourt, Captain Eli Lazarus said “preliminary investigations revealed that the cult violence is between Icelanders and other cult groups.”
The Army spokesman said the cultists were motivated by the quest for economic advantage suspected to be connected to oil theft and illegal bunkering activities.
In a statement obtained by our reporter, the Nigerian Army warned cultists to surrender their arms and turn away from their evil ways.
The Army warned that any further attacks on any community would be greeted with full military action.
The statement noted that “the viciousness and bestiality displayed by the cultists in killing their rivals have no place in any civilised society.”
It said the level of violence and carnage recorded in the past few days must not be allowed to repeat itself.
It urged all peace loving and law abiding people of Rivers State to denounce the violence.
The Army said the youth must be guided to save them from self destruction, while calling on parents to warn their children and wards against belonging or associating with any cult group.
The Army warned that anyone caught will not be spared, just as it appealed for information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the heinous crime and their patrons.
