Tony John, Port Harcourt
At least nine persons, including a police officer, were reportedly killed by gunmen at different locations in three local government areas of Rivers State.
Sunday Sun gathered that six persons were reportedly killed including a family of three in Erema community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of the State.
Two persons lost their lives in Ozuaha in Ikwerre Local Government Area while a police officer was killed in Rukpokwu in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. A community source from Erema community disclosed that men in OSPAC (local vigilance group) uniform stormed a village in Erema and killed a mother, father and their son, after the son, who was suspected to be a cultist, had escaped from them.
The source, who did not want to be mentioned for security reasons, said still, within the Erema community, three other persons were killed at two different locations in the area. The killings, it was gathered, might not be unrelated with cult activities.
In Ozuaha community in Ikwerre Local Government Area, it was gathered that the two victims were supporters of the major opposition party in the state. the deceased were reportedly shot dead. Meanwhile, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Ogoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), has confirmed the killing of a police officer at a check-point in Rukpokwu.
Omoni said that the killers operated in a white Hilux van, adding that they carted away the victim’s rifle, adding that the command was on the track of the bandits.