Posted by Tony Ita Etim, Port Harcourt on
Leader of one of the cult groups that have unleashed violence on the people of Rivers State, Soboma George was among 32 people killed yesterday in a fierce confrontation between the cultists and government troops.
•He's alive and well -MEND
Leader of one of the cult groups that have unleashed violence on the people of Rivers State, Soboma George was among 32 people killed yesterday in a fierce confrontation between the cultists and government troops.
Most of the deceased, Daily Champion learnt, were cultists loyal to George who engaged operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in a gun battle.
The early morning offensive which jolted residents of Port Harcourt, the state capital and environs, was a combined operation of men and officers of the Army and the Air Force.
George's strong hold was bombarded by helicopter gunships.
Said our source: "The military had to necessarily cordon off some portions of the city, in order to put the cultists in proper view as targets. This was done in order to minimize civilian casualties and to avoid any destruction of property. In all, and by the last count, 32 people are feared to have died - most of them cultists."
The aerial bombing of Soboma George's enclave yielded the desired result because his ill-equipped and rag tag armed cultists were no match to the Nigerian soldiers and were easily smoked out and those that laid down their arms were arrested and taken into custody. But Soboma was feared dead. And residents of Port Harcourt are giving the military all the necessary support and cooperation as they continue to hail the successful military operations. The military has vowed to stay in the city, until all cultists are flushed out."
Soboma, a former ally of Ateke Tom, leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Force was declared wanted in 2005 after he escaped from the Port Harcourt prison during the June 17, 2005 jailbreak.
Early this year Soboma was arrested for a minor traffic offence and detained at the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Bureau where his comrades-in-arms stormed the station and after about four hours of gun battle freed him and other detainees in the cell.When contacted the spokesman for the JTF and Public Relations Officer of the 2nd Amphibious Brigade, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Major Sagir Musa told our correspondent on phone "We suspect that Soboma George was killed."
According to him, in their search for hoodlums who caused violence in Port Harcourt last week, soldiers cordoned off an area where Soboma was living and in the process some hoodlums shot at them [soldiers] and they retaliated and also burnt the house were the cult leader was hiding.
Musa said that the killing of Soboma infuriated his followers who took to the streets of the Town area of the city shooting sporadically but men from the JTF contained the situation.
During the operation he said about 20 hoodlums were arrested while no soldier was killed or injured.
The ITF had Tusaday bombed Ateke Tom and Soboma George, For the violence in Port Harcourt alleging that the duo were struggling for territorial control of the illegal bunkering business in the city.
Soboma and Ateke, Musa continued took their struggle to the streets of Port Harcourt killing and maiming innocents citizens as well as destroyed public property.
However the clash between the soldiers and suspected cultists caused panic in the town area as residents remained indoors throughout while business houses were closed.
The panic was not restricted to the area as military helicopters that hovered around the city caused apprehension among residents who fled the streets of Port Harcourt for the safety of their homes and offices.
In areas like Diobu and other hotbeds human and vehicular movements were scanty as residents anticipated a repeat of last week gun battle and a fierce confrontation between hoodlums and security forces.
Banks along Ikwerre road and its environs sent their staff home before 4pm while other business promised were locked up as people retired to their homes for safety.