… Visit Bo-ue, Gwara and Luawii communities
Following the killing of six persons in Gwara, Luawii and Kono-Boue communities in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State by suspected cultists, chairman of the council, Dr Thomas Bariere has vowed to ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book.
The council boss stated this when he visited the communities to commiserate with those who lost loved ones in the attack.
While expressing sadness over the incident, he said the council cannot fold its arms and watch people being killed.
He said ” We are here today to sympathize with you over the sudden death of your sons, brothers and husbands, who lost their lives through the hands of miscreants that wants to destabilize our communities, as a Chairman who was elected by the people to ensure the safety of lives and properties, I want to assure you that perpetrators of this act won’t go unpunished.
“We will use every arsenal at our disposal to make sure that this evil people are brought to book because no one has the right to take the live of another person”.
He further enjoined the people of the affected communities not to take laws into their hands,
“My advice to the people of Luawii, Gwara and Boue communities is not to take laws into their hands and launch any reprisal attack on anyone or any community, because this fight is not your fight, Government is ontop of the situation and will act accordingly, this is my assurance to you”.
PHSpectator reports that six person were killed in the communities when suspected cultists visited Gwara before storming Kono-Boue and Luawii leaving a trail of blood, tears and fear amongst the residents.
The hoodlums, a community source said, proceeded to a neighbouring Kono-Boue where a motorcycle rider and the two passengers he was carrying ran into them and were shot dead.
Comrade Golden Nwibakpo, Public Relations Officer, Community Development Committee of Kono-Boue who confirmed the incident said the gunmen, numbering about seven, invaded Gwara community, shot indiscriminately and left three persons dead without any confrontation.
He said: “This afternoon, unknown gunmen invaded Gwara community, killing about three persons. They went into Kono-Boue, killing three too. A motorcycle rider and the persons that were with him were killed.”
“They were coming from thanksgiving when they ran into the gunmen and were shot dead.”
Golden said he personally put a call across to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Bori division who even though he deployed officers to the area, the culprits had fled before their arrival.
He said the absence of a functional police station coupled with the bad road in the area has worsened the security situation there. He added that villagers who fled were yet to return.
“As we speak now, some people are hiding in the bush. The way they (gunmen) came, they were not looking at anybody. They were just shooting.”
“The governor of Rivers State once came to this place and promised that there will be a police station there. Kono-Boue is a very large community. We are still hoping that he will fulfill his promise.
“Secondly, the road there is bad. If they fix the road, the police can easily access the area any time we call them. The DPO came with his team, but the gunmen did not waste time. He (DPO) was able to restore normalcy.”
“Let me say this: More than 35 youths and men have been murdered by cultists in the past 6 months in Khana LGA. About 5,000 persons are in different IDP camps in Bori, Igbo Etche and other parts of Rivers State.
More than 9 Communities are deserted in Babbe Kingdom as of today. About 12 schools are not functioning because of insecurity ravaging the area.”
Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the killings said: “I can confirm the cult clash in Khana where three persons were killed. The victims include Namene Kialede, Mueka Ikara and Kingsley Kponee.”
Omoni said no arrest has been made, but efforts were underway to arrest the perpetrators.
