Ex-deputy speaker condemns renewed killings in Rivers community

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, on Tuesday condemned renewed killings in Ekpeye, Rivers State.

At least, seven persons were said to have been killed in the Edeoha and Ihuwo of the area within the past 48 hours by cult groups.

Nwuche, who spoke while addressing stakeholders and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, among others from Ahoada East, expressed regret that Ekpeye had lately been in the news for the wrong reasons.

The stakeholders and leaders of the political parties were led by Benjamin Eke and Chief Eric Apia, amongst others, who paid him a courtesy visit at his Port Harcourt residence.

The ex-deputy speaker recalled how the Divisional Police Officer, Ahoada Division, Bako Angbashim, was murdered a year ago by a cult leader, Gift Okpara, also known as 2Baba and his members of his (@Baba) group.

“Efforts of the security agencies led to the elimination of the main culprits and the temporary return of normalcy. It is regrettable that Ekpeye has again regressed to this level of barbarism with wanton and mindless killings,” he said.

He urged the youths to desist from cultism, shun violence, and live meaningful lives.

Nwuche, therefore, called on traditional rulers, political leaders, opinion leaders, and the elite in Ekpeye to condemn and put a stop to the renewed cult war and killings, which he said had worsened the condition of the people who were already poor and needed a secure and peaceful environment to conduct their daily farming and trading activities.

He, however, called on the security agencies to arrest the culprits, bring them to book, and restore order and normalcy in Ekpeye land.

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the command has intensified the manhunt to track down the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

She stated, “With respect to the Ahoada East incident, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Mustapha, has directed the Divisional Police Officer and the Area Commander to ensure that those behind the dastardly act are fished out and brought to book. “