The Rivers State Police Command said they have launched a full scale investigation into the recent cult clashes in Choba and Alakahia communities in Obio/Akpo Local Government Areas of the State.
The Tide recalls that a youth identified as Chima was recently killed by members of a suspected rival cult group, who also burnt his body at the entrance of the Alakahia traditional ruler’s compound.
Also, a burnt and headless body of a young man was seen near Choba after sporadic shootings by rival cult gangs.
Speaking on the incidents, spokesman of the State Police command, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed that the shootings in parts of Choba was a fallout of supremacy battle between two notorious cult groups in the area.
Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said preliminary investigation indicated that the killings were carried out by rival cult groups.
According to him, “Members of two notorious cult groups, Iceland and Degbam engaged themselves in a senseless cult clash leading to the death of one of them who was beheaded.
“The timely intervention of the police led to the recovery of the body as they took to flight after shooting sporadically. Meanwhile, the body of the decease has been recovered and deposited in the mortuary.
“A manhunt for them has been launched. Investigations are ongoing and we have deployed men of the anti-cultism unit to that axis to check the situation and apprehend those behind the cult killings.” he said.
The Police image maker said the command was faced with various challenges in checking the upsurge in cult related killings, especially the unwillingness of stakeholders to provide information to the police concerning crimes committed in their communities.

Dennis Naku