Suspected Cultists Kill 3 In Rivers Community

Three persons were killed on Wednesday night by gunmen suspected to be cultists at Ubeta community in Ahoada-West local government area of Rivers State.

The ugly incident came barely 72 hours after two shop owners in the community were kidnapped by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

The paramount ruler of Ubeta community, Chief Million Jonathan, confirmed the killing of the three persons during an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt.

Jonathan, who stated that not all the three persons killed were cultists, explained that the two shop owners who were kidnapped are neighbours.

He said till yesterday, the kidnappers were yet to make contact with the community or family members of their victims.

The traditional ruler claimed that such incidents had been happening for months now without the intervention of the government, pointing out that many natives have deserted the community.

Jonathan stated that some of the youths perpetrating the act sworn an oath before now but they are surprised that some of them went back to their old ways.

He said the community was willing to train any of the warring youths in skill acquisition if they shun criminality and called on the government to come to the community’s aid.

The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe Koko, when contacted, said no official report has been made to the police on the incident.