Gunmen kill 12 people in Rivers

Twelve people were feared dead yesterday when gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded Mgbuoshimini community in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The state Police Command said only 10 people lost their lives in the incident, which occurred in the early hours of yesterday. Among the victims were a man and his wife, a nursing mother, women and young men.

The incident occurred 72 hours after two people were shot dead in the same community by armed men and the arrest of a suspect by policemen.

Our reporter learnt that the gunmen invaded the waterfront in Agip area of Port Harcourt at 4am and opened fire on residents within the vicinity.

It was further gathered that the hoodlums came into the community through the waterfront and attacked an area vastly occupied by peasants.

The residents who were displaced and had no alternative accommodation, had been using tables and mosquito nets to retain their spaces and living at the mercy of criminals.

A witness who gave his name as Nasiru Usman, said the bandits attacked mainly the people who were affected by the recent demolition of shanties in the area. Usman asserted that the killers were suspected cultists who came on a reprisal attack, after the killing of two people by a rival cult group last Thursday.

The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the Command had swung into action to track down the hoodlums behind the killing.