Police Flee As Rivers Cultists Rob Residents

There was pandemonium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when hoodlums invaded some streets, attacked residents, and robbed passersby and shop owners.

A source told The PUNCH that the gang of about 50 ransacked Eagle Island, Timber Street, and the Echue stretch of Illabouchi, all densely populated areas of the metropolis, with machetes as residents fled for safety.

It was gathered that the hoodlums were members of a suspected cult, one of whose members was allegedly hacked to death last weekend by a faction of the group in Diobu’s Mile 2 axis.

According to an eyewitness, Peter Rowland, residents ran into their homes and remained inside for hours as cult members brandished machetes and other weapons in search of their opponents.

The correspondent, who visited the area around 12.30pm, saw policemen in about five vans from various tactical units patrolling the vicinity.

Rowland said, “I was on the road when I saw over 50 guys with machetes.

“They used the cutlasses on people, collecting their belongings; some vehicle owners came out of their vehicles and ran for cover.

“Some traffic policemen at Illabuchi by Eagle Island Junction and members of the Diobu vigilance group in the area all ran away.

“When I saw what was happening, I had to call the Rivers State Government control room to lodge a complaint. Later, I saw that calm had returned to the area.”

The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.

She said, “We are aware of the disturbance; it may be a show of supremacy by cult groups. But we have commenced investigation to get to the root of the matter.”

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, dismissed claims that a life was lost during the melee. Punch

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