The Rivers State Police Command has announced the arrest of a notorious cultist implicated in a series of killings and armed robberies across the Diobu area of Port Harcourt and other regions of the state.
According to Grace Iringe-Koko, the Rivers State police spokesperson, in a statement released on Tuesday, the cultist, identified as Samuel Nwokoma, aged 25, and his accomplices, were responsible for the recent murders of two individuals in the Diobu area of Mile 1 in Port Harcourt between March 14 and 17, 2024.
Iringe-Koko stated that the gang fatally shot Ede Sunday, aged 32, on Nanka Street by Lomumba, Diobu, Port Harcourt, on March 14, and also inflicted a gunshot wound to George Johnson, aged 28, in the chest on Ojoto Street by Emenike, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, two days later.
She added that the apprehension of the notorious cultist followed credible intelligence gathered by operatives of the C4i Strike Force of the command in collaboration with a local vigilante group. This led to a successful raid on the hideout of the “Blood Star” cult gang, resulting in the recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition.
She stated, “On the 17th of March 2024, at approximately 0700hrs, based on credible intelligence, operatives of the C4i Strike Force, in conjunction with the Diobu Vigilante, apprehended one Samuel Nwokoma, a 25-year-old male and a member of the notorious Blood Star cult group.
“Nwokoma has been identified as being involved in a series of cult-related killings within the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt. During the subsequent interrogation, Samuel Nwokoma confessed to his involvement in two specific incidents.
“On the 14th of March 2024, at approximately 2030hrs, he and his gang attacked and fatally shot Ede Sunday, a 32-year-old male, at Nanka Street by Lomumba, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
“On the 16th of March 2024, at approximately 2035hrs, they also shot George Johnson, a 28-year-old male, in the chest at Ojoto Street by Emenike, Diobu, Port Harcourt.”
She noted that Johnson, despite receiving immediate medical attention at New Mile 1 Clinic, Diobu, died from the injuries sustained from the shot.
The police spokesperson added, “In a significant breakthrough, Samuel Nwokoma led police operatives to the gang’s hideout at Ogwu Waterside in Diobu, Port Harcourt.
“However, upon the arrival of the police, the remaining gang members fled the scene and attempted to evade capture by jumping into the river. Intensive efforts are currently underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.
“The search conducted at the hideout yielded substantial evidence in the form of recovered arms and ammunition.
“The recovered items include three AK-47 rifles, one assault rifle, six AK-47 magazines, one Beretta pistol, 274 rounds of 7.6mm live ammunition, 105 rounds of 6.55 live ammunition, nine rounds of .9mm ammunition, seven packets of Improvised Explosive Devices, one long detonating wire, and various types of charms.”
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