Troops of the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt killed five suspected cultists and recovered 2 pump action rifles and 26 phones during their operation against cultists and criminals gangs in Rivers State.
This is contained in a statement by Acting Director of Army Public Relations in the Brigade, Captain Eli Lazarus.
Lazarus in the statement said three of the suspected cultists’ camps were destroyed during the operation in Iba and Obelle Communities in Emuoha LGA of Rivers State over the weekend.
He said the operation followed a tip off on the hideout of the cultists in the communities.
He assured that the current operation against cultists and other criminals would be sustained to safeguard lives and property.
The statement reads, “In continuation of its operation against cultists and criminals gangs in Rivers State, men of 2 Brigade Nigerian Army conducted operations to clear suspected cultists camps in Iba and Obelle Communities in Emuoha LGA of Rivers State over the weekend.
“The operation followed a tip off on the hideout of the cultists in the communities. Five suspected cultists were killed, 2 pump action rifles and 26 phones were also recovered. Three of the suspected cultists camps were destroyed during the operation.
“The public is assured that the current operation against cultists and other criminals would be sustained to safeguard lives and property of all.
“Therefore, all law abiding and peace loving people of Rivers State are enjoined to provide security agencies with timely and accurate information that would help to arrest criminals in the State.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers State government says war has been declared on cultists and criminal elements in the state.
Countless people have died since his assumption of office in 2015; houses have been razed and many communities sacked. Security officials have not been spared.
The State Governor, Nyesom Wike while commissioning fifty-seven cars for Magistrates in the state, said the state would no longer treat the issue of insecurity with kid’s glove.
Governor Wike blamed multi-national oil companies in the state for aiding the criminals by awarding pipeline surveillance contracts to them.
He said security operatives had been given marching orders to hunt-down the cultists causing mayhem all over the state.
He said he had the political will to go against the cultists in the state.
Wike said, “I know we have security challenges in the state but let me say it clearly, we have decalred a total war on the so called cultists and we will not allow them go free.
“We had a security meeting with the Acting President and I told them part of the problem we have is caused by the oil companies who gave surveillance contracts to these boys. As a result of that, other cult groups began to fight for supremacy.
“We will not allow innocent people to die simply because of what they don’t know. So, security agencies have been directed to do whatever it takes to stop these boys.”
The Governor also charged judges and magistrates not to abscond from cases no matter the magnitude.
He cautioned the beneficiaries to use the cars only for official purposes.
Earlier, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Iyaye Laminkara and the Attorney-General of the state, Emma Aguma SAN, said the cars would enhance the performance of the magistrates in the state.
