A notorious cultist identified as Azunda Elechi has been killed by personnel of the Rivers State Police Command during a shootout in the state.
The development was conveyed to newsmen in the state on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Grace Iringe-Koko.
According to the police spokesperson, the suspect is a member of the Dey-Gbam cult group who carried out an attack at Mgbola Village, Ndele Emohua Local Government Area, on Tuesday, where four persons were killed.
She said, “On Wednesday, 31st May, 2023, the Dey-Gbam Cult Group invaded the community again. In a shootout between the cultists and the Police/local vigilantes, Azunda Elechi ‘M’ was fatally injured.
“One pump action and two live cartridges with three empty cartridge shells were recovered.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Polycard, has urged parents/guardians to monitor the activities of their children/wards so as to ensure they do not succumb to societal pressures to do crime.
“Similarly, members of the public are enjoined to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities in their neighbourhood to the police through the appropriate channels.”
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Meanwhile, eight persons lost their lives, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries in an auto crash that occurred on Wednesday at Shadarki village on the ever-busy Darazo-Bauchi highway in Bauchi State.
The crash, according to a report by the Bauchi State Sector Command of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), occurred at about 1:33 pm.
According to the report, two vehicles, a private white-coloured Toyota Hilux, with registration number BPP 041 and a white commercial Volkswagen Golf 3 car, with registration number DX 65 EKY, were involved in the accident.
It added that 14 persons, made up of five male adults, six female adults, two male children and one female child, were involved, out of which six persons, three male adults and three female adults, sustained injuries ranging from bruises, head injury to fracture.
The deceased, according to the report, were two male adults, three female adults, two male children and one female child.
While attributing the probable cause of the accident to wrong overtaking, the report informed that the injured were taken to the Darazo General Hospital in Darazo, the headquarters of Darazo Local Government Area of the state, for treatment.
The remains of the deceased were also evacuated to the hospital for certification.
The FRSC reported that items recovered at the scene of the crash from the victims included four mobile phones and personal effects.