Gunmen suspected to be members of the Iceland cult group have killed Chief Ferdinand Dabiri, Vice Chairman of the Obelle Council of Chiefs, in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening during a meeting of local chiefs in Omuwoka village. Eyewitnesses said an armed individual, known locally as ‘Cairo’, approached the gathering and shot Chief Dabiri twice at close range before escaping on a motorcycle.

The attack caused panic in the community, with other chiefs and attendees fleeing for safety. Some residents have reportedly left the area, fearing possible reprisal attacks.

Speaking in a telephone interview, the victim’s second son, Joseph Eze Dabiri, confirmed the killing.

“I heard that a guy came with a gun while my father was in a meeting at Omuwoka village in Obelle, shot him twice and fled on Saturday evening,” he said.

He added that the matter has been reported to the Rumuji Police Division and called on authorities to ensure justice is served.

As of press time, the Rivers State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident.

This is not the first time ‘Cairo’ has been linked to violence in the area. In November 2024, Miss Loveth Amadi led a protest to the Rumuji Police Division, accusing the same individual of killing her father, Akpata Amadi, a member of the Obelle community vigilante group.

Obelle has witnessed a series of cult-related killings over the past year, with residents increasingly concerned about rising insecurity and the slow pace of justice.