Gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded the Edeoha community in Aboada East Local Government Area of Rivers State and killed four residents early Sunday.
It was gathered that the assailants suspected to be members of the Iceland cult group, stormed the community at about 2 am on Sunday with sophisticated weapons, shooting sporadically.
It was further gathered that the gunmen went from house to house in search of their targets as residents scampered for safety for fear of being hit by a stray bullet.
A source in the community who pleaded anonymity said the reason behind the attack was unknown.
He stated, “The whole community was in confusion when they came and started shooting. Three of those killed are natives of Edeoha while the other one is a native of the Ekata community still in Aboada East LGA but resides in Edeoha.
“The suspected Iceland cult members who carried out the killing came from a camp in a neighbouring community to carry out the overnight killing at Edeoha.
“The people killed are not cult members but the attack is believed to have been carried out by cultists who may have been paid to eliminate the four residents over some unclear issues.”
Checks by our reporter indicate that the Edeoha community is accessible by road from the Nbaima-Ahoada highway and is also surrounded by creeks and rivers which hoodlums sometimes take advantage of.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying an investigation is ongoing.
“Yes, I can confirm. It is cult related.
“The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Mustapha, has directed the Ahoada Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer to commence investigation into the incident to apprehend the perpetrators and make them face justice,” she stated.