Panic gripped Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday night after gunmen suspected to be cultists launched a deadly assault on a local vigilante group near the council secretariat.
AFRIPOST gathered that intense gunfire erupted in the area, sparking fear and disorder in nearby communities.
The violent incident came just days after the council’s Sole Administrator was allegedly coerced by angry youths to resign, a claim he has publicly refuted.
In response to the latest attack, the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement released on Tuesday.
The Command described the assault as “a brutal attack carried out by suspected cultists.”
According to police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the attackers were allegedly led by two men, Umegbewe Kingsley, also known as ‘Gutam,’ and another individual identified only as Opaka.
Both are suspected leaders of the infamous Iceland cult group.
Iringe-Koko revealed that the gunmen stormed the OSPAC vigilante office, located near the council secretariat, and began shooting indiscriminately.
One vigilante operative, Ngozi Ipah, was shot during the assault.
A police officer, Corporal Francis Friday, who was part of the Special Intervention Squad stationed at the secretariat, was also killed in the attack.
“Police teams, led by the Divisional Police Officer, responded swiftly, but the attackers had already escaped,” the statement read.
Both victims were taken to Ahoada General Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds but were pronounced dead upon arrival.
Their bodies were later deposited at the hospital mortuary.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, visited the crime scene and directed tactical units to intensify efforts to capture the perpetrators.
“He has instructed the Area Commander and the DPO to go after those responsible,” the police said, assuring the public that “the killers of the officer and the vigilante member will not go unpunished.”
The Command also urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the nearest police post.