Gunmen suspected to be members of cult groups during the weekend killed eight people in Omoku Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the heavily armed men stormed the community at about 9pm and shot repeatedly, scaring many away in the process.
A resident of the area, who narrowly escaped the attack, Chief Ezegohuru Eluozo, told newsmen that the incident caused panic and disrupted Christmas celebrations in Omoku.
A source, who pleaded anonymity said, “On the eve of Christmas, around 9pm, I was sitting outside with one of my friends who just came and invited me when we started hearing gunshots. As usual, people started running for safety. I ran into them as I was heading for my house.
“They were putting on military uniform and armed to the teeth. They were shooting from every direction. All the people that came out that night to celebrate the Christmas eve ran back to their houses.
“In the morning, I took a walk around the area and I confirmed seven corpses. Two Hausa men, who might have been hit by stray bullets were among. A member of the Joint Security Task Force was also among.
“At the moment, we don’t know the actual cause of the attack, but we heard that the cult boys are angry, claiming that the state government settled a cult group and abandoned them. They said they will not stop attacking until the government compensates them.”
However, the Rivers State Police Command said it was not aware of the incident at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
The Police Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, said he would inform our reporter whenever he (Omoni) was briefed from the Divisional Police Officer in the area.
Meanwhile, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of ONELGA, Mr. Osi Olisa, has placed a ban on the operation of commercial motorcycle in the area from 7pm to 7am.
Olisa warned that anybody caught violating the ban would be penalised.
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