By: Felix Ikpotor
Barely a few week after the Rivers State government rounded up its amnesty programme for repentant cultists in the state, six people have been reportedly killed following renewed cult clashes in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local government area of the state
The development which be described as a set back to efforts by the state government at restoring peace in the volatile Orashi axis of the state, occurred on Monday.
This weekly gathered that a notorious and heavily armed group known as Squanta Force, one of the groups which has reportedly refused to accept the amnesty offer of the state government, attacked a multinational company killing three Civil Defence officers and left four others with life-threatening bullet injuries.
The cultists, said to be camped near an oil-well in the creek of Obiafo in Ndoni part of ONELGA, and led by one Ave-Boy engaged the helpless Civil Defence officers who were caught napping.
According to a notice pasted on the wall of the scene of the attack, Squanta Force are members of aggrieved youths from the area.
Similarly, another group of unknown gunmen has shot and killed a military officer and a civilian at a roundabout junction also in Ndoni, ONELGA.
It was learnt that the gunmen attacked two stranded soldiers who were battling with fixing their car at the roundabout, while two civilians who were helping the officers to fix their car were caught in the cross fire which led to the death of the Officer and the civilian.
The other soldier and the civilian reportedly escaped with gun wounds and are currently being treated in an undisclosed hospital.
The reason for the attack on the military men is not clear at the moment even as the military and the Civil Defence are yet to make any official statement in that regard.
Meanwhile, as a result of the renewed killings, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the area, Osi Olisah has placed a ban on the use of motorcycles popularly called Okada in the area from 6pm to 6am.
The Chairman also said the ban which takes effect immediately, will be sustained until further notice and directed security operatives to enforce the ban.
