Again, five feared dead in Rivers cult attacks

At least five persons were feared dead when unidentified gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded Zor-Sogho Community, in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was not clear if the attacks were between rival groups, but it was gathered that the gunmen stormed the community in a commando-style, shot indiscriminately and reportedly killed three men.

A community leader, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity for fear of his life, said the hoodlums struck around 10pm on Thursday, forcing many residents to flee.

Meanwhile, a group, Ogoni Youth Development Initiative, has condemned the killings, describing it as barbaric.

The National Coordinator of OYDI, Imeabe Oscar, attributed the killings to activities of cult groups and expressed surprise that some Ogoni youths were still indulging in such a shameful act.

He said, “We are shocked that at a time we are preaching peace, some misguided youths will still carry guns to kill innocent people. It is not a good report at all. For us, the peace of our communities is paramount. We advise our youths to shun violence and embrace peace or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

“We are also using this medium to call on the government and security agencies to investigate this matter to ensure that such a wicked act does not repeat itself. We want those behind this incident to be fished out and prosecuted so we can have peace in our communities.” Punch