Gunmen Kill APC Chieftain In Etche

L-R: Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Mack Kast; TCN Deputy Chairman, Mr Sola Akinfemiwa; Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Waziri and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, at a meeting in Abuja recently. Photo: NAN

Persons suspected to be members of a cult known as De-Gbam who have been terrorizing communities in Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State, in recent time, yesterday allegedly killed the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Obibi/Akwukabi ward in the LGA, Mr Chimezie Anucha.
The chieftain, a businessman was also the chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) of Obibi community.
A source who spoke to The Tide on condition of anonymity, said the incident occurred AT about 8am yesterday at Achara village.
The source said that late Anucha was shot severally by the cultists who accosted him as he was replacing his flat tyre at Achara village.
According to the source, four armed men believed to be members of De-Gbam came on two motorcycles and ordered him to enter his car, adding that his refusal angered the boys who shot at him repeatedly.
Our source explained that throughout the operation, which lasted for over an hour, nobody came out to confront the boys as the villagers scampered for safety.
The Tide learnt that the late community leader has been having problems with the cultists and their sponsors in the area due to his efforts to rid the village of all forms of cultism and other anti-social activities.
The Tide correspondent who visited the scene of the incident reports that the body of the deceased was taken to Okehi Divisional Police Station and later deposited at a private mortuary at Igbodo.
The Tide also gathered that residents of the community are now living in fear as armed policemen from the Swift Operation Squad (SOS) and State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) were seen within Obibi community in search of the suspected killers and their accomplices.
When contacted on phone, the acting Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State, Police Command, ASP Grace Koko, said she did not have details on the incident but would get back to our reporter.
As at the time of going to press last night, the PPRO never reached us to confirm or deny any such incident in Etche.