Bloody Valentine in Rivers: 9 feared dead in clash of cult gangs

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

About nine people were feared dead on a Valentine’s Day in a clash between members of cult gangs in Ikata community of Upata kingdom, Ahoada-East Local government area of Rivers State.

The reason for the cause of the bloody clash said to be between two factions of Greenlander cult group led by one VIP and Ebuka respectively cannot be immediately ascertained.

It was gathered that the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Effiong Okon has deployed tactical units to Ikata community and its environs following the bloody clash between the cultists.

The Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, while responding to inquiries from PM NEWS, confirmed the incident.

Iringe-Koko further disclosed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada Police Division and operatives of Joint Task Force visited the area of the incident for on-the-spot assessment of crime scene.

She added that the camps of the cultists were destroyed by the police operatives during the visit.

She, however, did not confirm the number of people who died in the clash.

SP Koko added that investigation is ongoing to arrest fleeing members of the gang.

However, a source in the community explained that members of two factions of suspected Greenland cult groups loyal to VIP and Ebuka respectively exchanged gunshots in Ikata community for over thirty minutes which led to death of nine people.

The source added that the incident caused panic in the community as residents scampered for safety and business owners hurriedly closed their shops and stores to avoid being caught by stray bullets.