2 Killed, 5 Injured As Gunmen Attack Rivers Community

Two people have been killed and five others injured after a midnight attack on Rumuodogo community in Emohua local government area of Rivers State.

The attackers are suspected to come from neighbouring Bukuma community in Degema LGA of the state.

The violence may not be unconnected to the earlier discovery of bodies of two Bukuma fishermen on the bank of a river and their fishing nets were later found in the homes of some Rumuodogo residents.

Confirming the attack, the chairman of Rumuodogo Community Development Committee, Azubuike Abaruko, said some residents are still missing following the attack on the community.

“About seven different compounds were burnt down, about 15 houses were destroyed and two persons were killed. Others are still in the bush and we have not seen some persons. The people that got injured, some of them are taking treatment in the hospital. The ones that I met are about five persons,” he said.

It was gathered that some residents of Rumuodogo community have been arrested by the leadership of the community and handed over to the police over the killing of the two fishermen.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Emohua LGA, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, has called on the police to investigate the attack on Rumuodogo community.

Speaking during a fact-finding visit to the community, Lloyd described the violence as unnecessary and cautioned against blaming Rumuodogo residents for the killing of the two fishermen before the police conclude their investigation.

“I will not want to make any statement that will prejudice police investigation. Police are still investigating what may have been the remote and immediate cause of what happened. From preliminary report available to me, two Bukuma fishermen were found dead in the river and incidentally, their nets were found in the houses of residents of Rumuodogo. Chances are that those people whose houses those nets were found may not be the people who committed the atrocity because the water carries nets. That would be within the purview of the police and other security agencies to unravel,” he said.

Lloyd said he has commenced discussion with his counterpart in Degema LGA, Micheal John-Williams to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

He appealed to residents who fled the community during the crisis to return.