9th October, 2017
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Monday was a sad day for residents of Mgbosimili-Rumueme in Obio-Akpor local government area of Rivers State as no fewer that 12 persons were allegedly killed in the community.
The killings took place around 3 a.m. when unknown gunmen went from house-to-house shooting people for yet to be ascertained reason.
The attack on the community is coming on the heels of the killing of two youths at about 9 p.m. on October 9 while taking their meal.
The Rivers State Police Command spokesman, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the killings stressing that the motive behind the killings has not been ascertained.
“It is quite an unfortunate incident. We can confirm it. Our men are already there. I will be going there myself. The cause of the incident is not yet known but in no time we will be able to know,” Omoni said.
A resident of the area said they were woken up in the early hours of Monday by sporadic gun shots and they had to call for help.
[caption id="attachment_350654" align="alignnone" width="504"]
Some of the corpses at the scene of the killing
“At about 3.30 am we started hearing gun shots at Slaughter (abattoir) area by the Waterside of Mgboshimili-Rumueme. But not too long, somebody called me that I should come immediately, that one of my brothers had been killed. When I got there, I was able to confirm that one of those killed was one of our helpers in the abattoir. I saw about 11 corpses on the floor,” he stated.
Some residents alleged that the killings might not be unconnected with the killing of a community leader in the area, Chief Miniku Chukwu, who was shot in broad daylight during a community meeting.
Meanwhile, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio-Akpor local government council, Mrs Goodnews Clinton Amadi said 12 persons were killed.
She called for calm in Mgboshimili-Rumueme as security agents swung into action to identify those behind the killings.
She assured that the council was ready to render assistance to security agencies.