Posted by Funmi Peter-Omale, This Day (Lagos) on
The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, yesterday stated that the Police would need to carry out a comprehensive DNA test to ascertain whether one of the charred bodies of the three cultists killed during a shoot-out with a combined team of soldiers and police was that of George Soboma, the leader of one of the cultist groups that embarked on a violent rampage in Port Harcourt.
The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, yesterday stated that the Police would need to carry out a comprehensive DNA test to ascertain whether one of the charred bodies of the three cultists killed during a shoot-out with a combined team of soldiers and police was that of George Soboma, the leader of one of the cultist groups that embarked on a violent rampage in Port Harcourt.
Okiro also confirmed that two policemen sustained injuries during the shoot-out. "We want to carry out a DNA test on the three charred bodies that were recovered to ascertain their identities and once it is confirmed that George Soboma has been killed, we will let Nigerians know their level of involvement in the crises," Okiro said.
He added that available records indicated that three people were killed, while two policemen and some soldiers were injured. While assuring that normalcy had returned to the Rivers State capital, Okiro maintained that intensive security especially, stop-and-search would continue, while the security agencies will continue to patrol the city.
The Rivers State capital has been under seige for over a week, resulting in the loss of several lives and destruction of property in Port Harcourt. Armed warfare broke out between criminal gangs in the state in what was perceived to be turf warfare to gain supremacy in the city.
In response, the Federal Government sent in troops to complement the efforts of the police and the Joint Task Force (JTF) to restore peace and order.