Blessing Okorite, Port Harcourt
Suspected cultists, on Wednesday morning, invaded Taabaa village in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, killing five persons.
The Nigerian Xpress learned that the heavily-armed suspects attacked the community at about 6:00a.m.
It was also gathered that same gunmen invaded Taabaa neighbouring community to Okwale, on Tuesday night, killing about four persons and left one victim.
It further learnt that many houses, including the palace of traditional ruler of Taabaa, HRH S.K. Nule, were burnt down by the gunmen during the attacks.
A community source from the area disclosed that the gunmen believed to be cultists, “had on Tuesday around 8:00p.m, invaded Okwale community and killed five people”, noting that, on Wednesday morning, another set of gunmen attacked Taabaa community and killed four people.
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The source, who pleaded anonymity, noted that residents of the two communities in fear of their lives, had started moving their belongings out of the communities.
They, however, called on the state government and security agencies to intervene in the situation.
The source said, “The attackers raided Okwali community yesterday (Tuesday) evening around 8.00pm, shooting sporadically and at their targets. They killed about five people. They also burnt many houses.
“This morning (Wednesday), they also attacked Taabaa community, neighbouring community to Okwali, shooting and killing about four persons too.
Meanwhile, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident, could not confirm the number of deaths.
He stated that the Command had deployed its men to the affected communities to restore normalcy.
