Three killed as Rivers cultists, policemen clash

The Rivers State Police Command said its men killed three suspected cultists during a shootout in the Udebu community, the Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state on Sunday evening.

PUNCH Metro learnt that members of the Iceland and Greenland cult groups terrorising the Ahoada East and West Local Government Areas had mobilised for a supremacy battle when the police stormed the area.

The operatives, who acted on a tip-off, arrived at the scene around 5pm and returned fire immediately the suspected cultists shot at them, leading to the death of three persons.

A community source told our correspondent that the leader of one of the gangs and others escaped with bullet wounds.

The source said, “After they opened fire on the men from the Ahoada Police Division, one of the cultists called Bright and two others were killed.

“But one man who is a gang leader and two others escaped with injuries because the police shot them.”

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that one locally-fabricated G-3 rifle, a locally-fabricated pistol which uses AK-47 ammunition, charms and other weapons were recovered from the suspects.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said, “Yes I can confirm that three cultists were killed. The cultists were engaging in a supremacy battle when we (the police) received credible information and mobilised our men.

“Three of them were neutralised. An investigation is still on to apprehend other gang members and ensure that they face the law.” Punch