According to a report by The PUNCH, the residents of Okpo, Ogbakiri community, in the Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State, have been living in fear after gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded the community and killed the leader of a disbanded local security outfit, Ikechi Wordi.
PUNCH Metro learnt that a man, identified simply as Princewill, was also killed by the hoodlums during the attack.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commander of the outfit, known as OSPAC, was beheaded by the cultists.
The source explained that the cultists stormed a funeral and shot continuously for several hours, adding that mourners and residents ran helter-skelter to avoid being hit by stray bullets.
“The gunmen came from outside the community and shot Ikechi Wordi, the leader of OSPAC in Ogbakiri.
“There is panic; some people are leaving the community, while some are still in town. One Princewill was also murdered,” he added.
A spokesman for the state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident.
He said, “I can confirm that two persons were killed in a fracas this afternoon in Okporo-Ogbakiri; that is all I can say. But I was told by the Divisional Police Officer that when they got the distress call, they immediately mobilised men to the scene. But on arrival, they didn’t meet anybody. They only saw two corpses. They removed the bodies and took them to a mortuary.
“The CP has ordered an investigation and our men are there to ensure that there won’t be reprisals. So far, we have been able to restore normalcy.”