• Soludo commiserates with families, community over killing of 12 persons
• Cult violence claims more lives in Rivers
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has faulted families and the Nibo community for rushing to bury victims of the Sunday massacre without police clearance.
Itam, who paid an unscheduled visit to Nibo town on Monday, said that his visit to the community was for on-the-spot assessment, just as he strongly criticised actions of some indigenes, for allegedly keeping back information that could help police investigation.
He expressed worry that most concerned relatives of the deceased persons have picked up the bodies of the victims and quickly buried them, regretting that they have disrupted what would have provided a lead to cracking the identity of those behind the Nibo killings.
In a statement released yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that only five persons were killed on the spot, while three others were seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
Ikenga assured that the security operatives would double efforts to unravel the identity of those behind it.
Also the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has commiserated with families and the Nibo community in Awka South Council Area of the state, for the loss of their sons and daughters in the heinous massacre carried out by yet to be identified hoodlums in the community.
In his tribute during his visit to the community yesterday in company of some top government officials, Soludo threatened to deal with the rising incidence of cultism in the state.
While vowing to fish out those involved in the dastardly act, the governor said: “No matter where the perpetrators hide, they will be brought to book, they can’t go free.
Citizens are assured of their safety, they must go about to continue with normal daily activities.”
Recall that no fewer than 12 persons were gunned down last Sunday in Nibo, in which several versions have linked the killings to rival cult war and communal disturbances.
In a related development, tragedy struck again in Rivers State as gunmen suspected to be cultists killed two persons at Odiokwu junction in Ula-Ehuda, Igbu Akoh-Kingdom, Ahoada East Local Government Area. The incident occurred just 24 hours after five persons were killed in Edeoha Community, Upata kingdom, also in Ahoada East LGA.
According to Hector Chinem, Public Relations Officer of Igbu-Akoh kingdom, community members observed suspicious movements on Sunday night, only to wake up to find two youths riddled with bullets.
Chinem expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, calling on Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Mustapha, to strengthen security in the area. “We urge the Commissioner to deploy more personnel to our communities to protect our people,” Chinem pleaded. He also appealed to local youths to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
The latest incident is linked to the killing of five persons in Edeoha Community on October 20, 2024. SP Koko had confirmed that the incident was cult-related, sparking widespread concern about the growing violence in the region.(Guardian)
