Cultists on looting spree in Port Harcourt
Persons suspected to be cultists went on a looting spree in Port Harcort, the capital of Rivers state on Tuesday. Report has that the suspected cultists robbed passersby and looted shops.
The assailants in their numbers, wielding machetes, looted shops at the Eagle Island, Timber Street, and Echue, all in Port Harcourt. They were said to have gone berserk following the killing of their member by a rival gang at the weekend.
An eyewitness, Peter Rowland, reportedly said the assailants, who were baying for blood, searched everywhere for their rivals.
“I was on the road when I saw over 50 guys with machetes.
“They used the cutlasses on people, collecting their belongings; some vehicle owners came out of their vehicles and ran for cover.
“Some traffic policemen at Illabuchi by Eagle Island Junction and members of the Diobu vigilance group in the area all ran away.
“When I saw what was happening, I had to call the Rivers State Government control room to lodge a complaint. Later, I saw that calm had returned to the area,” Rowland told Punch.
Confirming the incident, Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the state police command, put the violence down to a supremacy battle between the rival gangs.
“We are aware of the disturbance; it may be a show of supremacy by cult groups. But we have commenced investigation to get to the root of the matter.”
The superintendent of police also denied anyone died in the disturbance.
