Bloody Christmas: Panic as gunmen invade Rivers community, kill 8
- Unknown gunmen attacked Omoku town in Rivers state on Christmas day
- Eight people were killed in the attack
- The gunmen suspected to be cultists were reportedly dressed in military uniform and armed to the teeth
No fewer than eight people were killed on Sunday, December 25, in Omoku town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers state.
They were killed by unknown gunmen suspected to be members of cult groups, The Nation reports.
The suspected cultists were said to have invaded the community at 9pm, shooting sporadically as they carried out a coordinated attack in three streets.
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Chief Ezegohuru Chukudi Eluozo, a resident of the area who narrowly escaped death, said there was panic as the incident disrupted Christmas celebration in the community.
He said politicians were to blame for the attack in the area.
Narrating what happened, a source who pleaded anonymity said: “They were putting on military uniform and armed to the teeth. They were shooting from every direction. All the people that came out that night to celebrate the Christmas eve ran back to their houses.
“In the morning, I took a walk around the area and I confirmed seven corpses. Two Hausa men, who might have been hit by stray bullets were among. A member of the Joint Security Task Force was also among.
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“At the moment, we don’t know the actual cause of the attack, but we heard that the cult boys are angry, claiming that the state government settled a cult group and abandoned them. They said they will not stop attacking until the government compensates them.”
However, the Rivers state police command said it was not aware of the incident at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
It was also a bloody Christmas in Kaduna state as no fewer than 10 people were confirmed dead with several houses razed as gunmen attacked Goska village in Kaninkon Chiefdom of Jema’a area of the state.