Tension in Rivers community as cultists kill youth leader, visitor, houses burnt.

Youths in the in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers are restive over the murder of their leader identified as Isaac Obe, alongside another person by armed men suspected to be cultists.

Following the incident which reportedly happened at 7:00pm on Saturday, the Alode youths went into rampage burning no less than 10 houses, including the one belonging to a community chief, Donald Awala.

According to a source who asked not to be identified, the youth leader was shot dead while entering his house, while the second victim who was killed was a stranger who came visiting the community.

“These things are very complex. They have their own internal community problems, both chieftaincy and youth council problems. So, it is difficult to say what is responsible.” the source said.

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Continuing, the source added that; “The guy that was killed was a former youth president and a friend of his, who came in with him from Port Harcourt. Then his people now went on the rampage. About 10 houses were burnt.

“One of the houses belonged to the chief of the community, Donald Awala. The community might have felt that it was about their local chieftaincy matter and they went to houses to destroy things.”

Confirming the incident, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, the state Police Public Relations Officer, said the police were on the trail of the suspected cultists. He also noted that peac has been restored to the community.

“I don’t know the identity of the two persons that were killed, but I can confirm to you that the incident happened at about 7pm on Saturday in Alode community,” he said.

He added that; “An area commander went there and peace has returned. The youths had earlier gone on the rampage over the incident.”

 

 

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