One Killed, as Rivers CP Declares War on Cultists

The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr Olatunji Disu, has declared war on cultists and other criminal elements terrorising the state.

This was as a native of Imo but resident in Rivers, Johnson Sopruchi, has been shot dead by suspected hoodlums in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt metropolis.

THISDAY gathered that the victim was killed Saturday night, at Abakaliki Street, off Emenike Street Mile 1 Diobu.

It was further gathered that the hoodlums, who shot him (Sopruchi) also collected his phone.

A source from the area of incident told THISDAY that the victim died early hours of yesterday (Sunday) in an undisclosed hospital in the same area.

According the source, who pleaded anonymity, "His (victim) neighbours where he does printing jobs are still looking for a way to connect his people."

THISDAY gathered that the killing happened barely three days (March 14, 2024) after a man was shot dead by suspected cultists at Nanka, off Lumumba street, also in the same axis of Port Harcourt city.

But Disu has warned cultists and other criminals in the state to stay off crimes as the hand of the law was closer to them than they realised.

Disu in a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the command would continue to gain ground in its clamp down on cultism in the state. He disclosed the arrest of the primary suspect in the violent cult clash that rocked the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt early in 2024.

Disu, however, expressed optimism that synergy between the Police and Community-Based Security outfits could yield the desired result of addressing the menace of cultism.