Gunmen suspected to be cultists have shot dead two occupants of a vehicle, along Ubeta Owube Road in Ahoada West Local Council of Rivers State. The Guardian learnt that the victims were the driver of the vehicle and an owner of a building material shop.
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An indigene of a neighbouring community, Major Ellen, told The Guardian on phone that the gunmen, on Saturday night, ambushed and shot the victims on their way to Owube community.

Elleh, who hails from the Ubarama community and a former Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, said he got reliable information that the incident occurred at a neighbouring community, which is about one-metre drive away.

He said one of the deceased, Confidence Chalikobi, lives in Port Harcourt. He said: “His father’s house was damaged during the flood. He bought some building material for repair of the house and he was gunned down by the hoodlums, while the driver was from Elemechi Ogbogu.

“I called on the stakeholders and the Local Council boss to give necessary support to the new Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and other security agencies in the area to clamp down on criminal elements.”

Recall that Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, in few days upon assumption of office, redeployed Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Akinima Police Division and Ahoada Police Division in Ahoada West and East Local Councils respectively and brought in new Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), which many acclaimed as a good strategy to curtail activities of cultists and other criminal elements in the area.

At press time, spokesperson for Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, was yet to respond to text messages sent to her mobile phone.
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