Suspected cultists on Wednesday night(April 19,2023) about 7:55pm shot a man in his mid twenties popularly Known as ‘Asari’ dead at Ekwe/Ikwerre road, Mile 3 Diobu Porthacourt .
Eyewitness account disclosed that the said ‘Asari’ was standing with some persons when about five armed men came out from a car and shot him thrice and fled the scene.
Our reporter who visited the scene gathered from sources that the killing is said to be as a result of supremacy war between two suspected factions of Deygbam cult groups (History and Blackies Houses) that are said to be affiliated to the D12 and BS houses of Deygbam cult groups respectively that were engaged in a shoot out at Elechi beach Mile 1 Diobu Porthacourt last Tuesday (18, April,2023) which two persons were feared dead even as the Police confirmed the shoot out at Elechi beach but said no life was lost.
We learned that the shooting caused serious chaos as passersby, road users and commuters scampered for safety while road side traders within the scene closed business for the day.
In an interview with our reporter Comrade Godstime Ihunwo,Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Nkpolu Oroworukwo Mile 3 Diobu under Diobu vigilante said
“At about 8pm today 19th April 2023, we heard two gunshots at Ikwerre road /Ekwe street opposite Bishop Okoye street and quickly rushed down to the scene and saw a young man known and called ‘Asari’ laying dead and immediately we approached the Nkpolu Police station to tender our report .
“As we and the Police were coming back to inspect the corpse, we got a report that some unknown gunmen drove with one Jetta and one Mazda and made away with the corpse.
“I want to cease this opportunity to call on the general public to remain calm and go about their lawful activities as the Police and the vigilantes are on ground to restore sanity in the area”.
When contacted,the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police command,SP Grace Iringe Koko confirmed the killing at Ekwe/Ikwerre road Mile 3 Diobu.
She said it was as a result of cult rivalry and the Commissioner of Police, CP Effiong Okon has mandated tactical teams and other officers to fish out the Perpetrators and sponsors of the cult clashed while investigation is ongoing