Gunmen kill Rivers chief as cult violence surges
Unidentified gunmen have shot dead the Vice Chairman of Obelle Council of Chiefs in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The victim was said to have been killed on Saturday during a meeting of local chiefs at Omuwoka village.
The second son of the slain chief, Joseph Eze Dabiri, confirmed the killing on Sunday.
“I heard that a guy came with a gun while my father was in a meeting at Omuwoka village in Obelle, shot at him twice and fled,” Joseph said.
He further stated that the matter had been reported to the Rumuji Police Division and appealed to authorities to ensure justice is served.
According to eyewitnesses, the peace of the gathering was shattered when suspected members of the Iceland cult group, allegedly led by a notorious figure known as Cairo, stormed the venue on motorbikes.
The incident has reportedly thrown residents of the community into mourning.
Cairo reportedly alighted from a bike, walked directly up to Chief Dabiri, pulled out a firearm, and shot him at close range, twice, before fleeing the scene.
The criminal reportedly confirmed his victim was dead before making his escape.
The sudden violence caused pandemonium as other chiefs scrambled for safety.
By nightfall, reports indicated that some residents had begun fleeing the community for fear of further attacks.
As of the time of this report, the Rivers State Police Command has not released an official statement on the incident, but personnel from a military outpost in Ibaa, a neighboring community, have stepped up their patrols.
The killing has further deepened concerns over the resurgence of cult-related violence in Obelle. It may be recalled that on November 15, 2024, one Miss Loveth Amadi led a protest to the same Rumuji Police Division, accusing the same Cairo of being responsible for the murder of her father, Akpata Amadi, a member of the local vigilante group. That incident occurred on November 4, 2024.
The community is said to have witnessed a disturbing rise in cult-linked killings over the past year, with residents now calling for urgent security intervention to prevent further bloodshed and restore peace in the troubled community.
Gunmen kill Rivers chief as cult violence surges
