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Regional News of Saturday, 13 February 2021

Source: punchng.com

Five killed, many injured in Rivers gunmen attacks, explosion

The two persons were shot on the head leaving them in a pool of blood The two persons were shot on the head leaving them in a pool of blood

The police in Rivers State have confirmed the killing of two persons in a suspected cult clash in Rumuomasi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

This is as some gunmen reportedly killed three persons near Kom-Kom, in the Oyigbo Local Government Area.

The two persons were shot on the head leaving them in a pool of blood.

It was gathered that the two young men were trailed and attacked by the assailants who drove in a Toyota Sienna vehicle near the Rumuomasi roundabout.

The spokesman for the state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said the copses of the victims had been deposited in a mortuary.

He said, “Our attention was drawn to the Rumuomasi roundabout where there were gunshots. Our men, on getting to the scene, found the lifeless bodies of two young men who were killed by some gunmen driving in a Sienna car.

“It is clearly a case of cult clash. A rival cult group went there to attack them. Understandably, those that were killed were members of a different cult group. They have been hunting and killing one another.

“Looking at the bodies, one could tell that the victims were in their 20s. Investigation has commenced and efforts are on to arrest the culprits and bring them to justice.”

On the Oyigbo killings, our correspondent learnt that gunmen on a motorcycle rode around the area for some minutes trying to locate their targets.

A source in the community said the three victims were at a spot when the gunmen stormed the area and opened fire on them, adding that they died on the spot.

She explained, “One of those who died was my relative. They were on a bike and all of them carried guns. They just opened fire and killed three people. This was around 9pm on Thursday.”

Police spokesman, Omoni, said he could not confirm the incident as it had not been reported to the police.

He said, “Did they report to the police? If such a thing happened and they didn’t report to the police how do we know?”

He however promised to find out from the Divisional Police Officer in the area and get back to our correspondent. He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, five persons are now in critical conditions following an explosion that occurred at a filling station near the Timber area of Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the victims of the explosion were working in the filling station, leaving them with first-degree burns.

President of Oyigbo Youths Association, Victor Nwachukwu, said the victims were in critical conditions when he visited them in the hospital.

He said, “There was an explosion at Sobax filling station, opposite Timber. I went to the scene and I noticed that five persons were injured as a result of the explosion. I have also gone to the hospital to see their state of health.”