No fewer than six suspected cult members were killed when men of the Rivers State Police Command raided on their hideout at Obelle community in Emohua local government area of the state.
Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Nwonyi Emeka, said operatives also arrested six suspected cultists and kidnappers, who have been terrorising the Emohua local government axis of the East-West Road, during the raid.
CP Emeka stated that operatives of Anti-cultism and Tactical Units stormed the hideout of a gang, led by one Uchechukwu Daniel and on sighting the Police, the hoodlums opened fire.
He further stated that the Police responded and in exchange of gunfire six of the hoodlums were fatally wounded, six arrested while others escaped with bullet wounds in different directions.
The Police Commissioner explained that on June 30, 2023, Police operatives on patrol along King Perekule Junction, GRA, Port Harcourt, intercepted and rescued a kidnap victim, who narrated how one of their friends was kidnapped and taken away.
Emeka said on July 6, 2023, acting on credible information, Police operatives trailed kidnappers to their hideout, victims were rescued unhurt at Ozuoha community in IKwerre local government area of the state, while one Mr. Buchi David was arrested.
He listed exhibits recovered to include one locally fabricated arms, cut to size guns, and six cartridges.
The Police Commissioner stated that on Friday June 30, 2023, a cult related activity was taking place at Hospital Road, Bonny, but the cultists ran away on sighting the Police, while one pistol, a bag and techno phone were recovered.
Emeka revealed that on June 20, 2023, the Special Area Division at Rumudomaya community in Obio-Akpor local government area and local vigilance group raided criminal hideout in the community.
He stated that suspects both men and women aged between 15 to 28 years were arrested and different hard drugs recovered from them.
Emeka further stated that at Slaughter, behind Rumuokoro Market, also in Obio-Akpor local government area, three Police Mobile Force (PMF) uniforms, Army cap, locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges were recovered when the combined team of Policemen and vigilante stormed the hideout.
The Police CP also revealed that operatives of Anti-cultism unit, Bori annex on July 5, 2023, while on patrol at Yokuru community in Khana local government area, arrested one Baridara Baridam, aka ‘Ojukwu’, who had been on wanted list of Police.
He said the suspect is a member of a three-man gang including one a.k.a Mali and Lekia terrorizing Ogoni axis of East-West road.
