Suspected cultists Wednesday night , shot a man in his mid twenties popularly known as ‘Asari’ dead at Ekwe street by Ikwerre road, Mile 3 Diobu, PortHarcourt .
Eyewitness account said the deceased was standing with some persons when about five armed men came out from a car and shot him thrice and fled the scene.
It was further gathered from sources that the killing is said to be as a result of supremacy war between two suspected factions of Deygbam cult groups that has been terrorizing the area recently.
Recall that suspected Deygbam cult group members had engaged in a shoot out at Elechi beach Mile 1 Diobu Port Harcourt on Tuesday which led to two persons feared dead.
The incident caused serious chaos in the area as road users and commuters scampered for safety while traders within the area closed businesses for the day.
In an interview, Comrade Godstime Ihunwo, Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Nkpolu Oroworukwo Mile 3 Diobu under Diobu Vigilante who confirmed the incident said,“At about 8pm today 19th April 2023, we heard two gunshots at IKwerre road /Ekwe street opposite Bishop Okoye street and quickly rushed down to the scene and saw a young man known and called ‘Asari’ laying dead and immediately we approached the Nkpolu Police station to tender our report
“As we and the Police were coming back to inspect the corpse, we got a report that some unknown gunmen drove with one Jetta and one Mazda and made away with the corpse.
“I want to cease this opportunity to call on the general public to remain calm and go about their lawful activities as the Police and the vigilantes are on ground to restore sanity in the area”.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe Koko confirmed the killing at Ekwe/Ikwerre road Mile 3 Diobu.
She said it was as a result of cult rivalry and the Commissioner of Police, CP Effiong Okon has mandated tactical teams and other officers to fish out the perpetrators and sponsors of the cult clashed while investigation is ongoing
