Suspected cult members kill 8 in Rivers

No fewer than eight persons were killed, while many sustained injuries when unknown gunmen went on the rampage at different locations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on Friday night.

Of that number, it was gathered that ‎five of the victims were shot dead when armed men stormed a popular bar near the Amadi-Ama roundabout in the state capital and opened fire at the customers about 11:30 p.m.

Although the exact identities of the victims could not be ascertained at press time, it was learnt that a lady and a military officer were among those killed.

A female source, who lives in the area, said residents were jolted from their sleep by the defeaning sound of the shooting at the drinking spot which usually operates till dawn.

The source said that three corpses, which were not identified that night, were kept outside the bar till Saturday morning, as expended bullets casings littered the scene.

Also, earlier that night (about 9 p.m.), three persons were killed and another seriously wounded when two armed men attacked the Okrika waterside in Port Harcourt.

The three victims were simply identified as Ibiyene (a woman, selling local gin), Ekaki and Maxwell. The one wounded was Tekena.

Sunday Mirror gathered that the killers suspected to be cults, came from old NEPA waterfront and shot the victims at Prime Rose Estate, Okrika waterfront, Port Harcourt metropolis.

The eyewitness, who did not want his name in print, said the perpetrators walked directly to where the woman was selling drink and opened fire at them. The deceased were said to have died on the spot.

The source stressed that earlier in the day, a member of a vigilance group in the area, complained to him that some boys living in the waterfront had confronted them (members of the vigilance group) that they were obstacles to their ‘business’ in the vicinity.

When contacted the State Police spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, confirmed the shooting at the bar.

Muhammad however said the brief he got showed that the hoodlums were suspected cult members.