No fewer than five persons have been shot dead by hoodlums suspected to be members of a cult gang, popularly called 2Baba in Odiemerenyi community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The victims were identified as Ogbobula Ejee, Eeje Idaokwa, Chigbogu, Idaokwa, and others whose identity are yet to be known.
Speaking anonymously, an indigene of the community stated that the suspected cultists missed their target after ambushing a police patrol van in the early hours of Sunday, leading to the killing of five indigenes of the community.
According to the source, there will not be peace in the area until the demands of the armed cultists are met.
The source further said one David Gift, popularly called 2Baba, led the gang of criminals.
The gang had earlier been accused of killing Ahoada Divisional Police Officer, SP Bako Angbashim.
He added, “These cultists are 2baba and his group. This happened a few minutes past 1:00 am on Sunday. We heard footsteps and our dog was barking.
“One of my brothers came out and asked who the people were. They responded and said they would come back to kill everybody if their men in police custody were not released, being the chiefs that were arrested and their sympathizers.
“My younger brother was pleading with them, they shot him and entered the house and shot two other of my brothers.
“They went to another compound and shot another person. They went back into the community and shot another of my brothers. Five persons were killed.
“We are tired of facing this problem. We are pleading with the government to help us out. They should put more effort into making sure this stops because they said they’ll continue killing.
“We are in pain. All the families are crying.
“One of the people killed is Ogbobula also known as Bestman, Chigbogu, Idaokwa, and Ekwushi.”
Reacting to the incident, the Rivers State Police Command confirmed that five persons were killed in the attack in Odiemerenyi community.
The police in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, also stated that two of the cultists were killed by its personnel.
The Command said “The hoodlums who invaded and attacked the indigenes of Odiemerenyi are cultists loyal to David Gift, popularly called 2Baba, who has been declared wanted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, after his cult group killed the late DPO, SP Bako.”
The statement revealed that the hoodlums were in search of suspected Police informants, but added that the Police Division, on receipt of the information, “swung into action and mobilized with other tactical units to the scene and on getting to the community, the hoodlums who unfortunately, have killed five natives before the arrival of the Police opened fire on sighting the Police”.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police ordered the “Ahoada Police Division and other tactical units to redouble their effort to ensure David Gift and other fleeing suspects are arrested”.