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Soboma George's OUTLAW cult group was dealt a major blow yesterday, as the second in command to wanted cult leader was said to be among six persons arrested by men of the Joint Task Force in Rivers state in connection with killings last Wednesday of five persons, among whom were three prominent chiefs in Ogbogoro community.
Soboma George's OUTLAW cult group was dealt a major blow yesterday, as the second in command to wanted cult leader was said to be among six persons arrested by men of the Joint Task Force in Rivers state in connection with killings last Wednesday of five persons, among whom were three prominent chiefs in Ogbogoro community.
Major Sagir Musa, spokesman of the JTF and Army PRO in the state, said in Port Harcourt that the three areas raided by the JTF, and from where the arrests were made, were Ozuoba, Rumuekini and Ogbogoro. Among those arrested, he confirmed, was the second in command to Soboma George, leader of the dreaded Outlaws cult group in the state. The .
Sagir said the task force also raided a shrine were they found photographs of some of the cultists in which they appeared naked, among other items. He said things recovered have since been passed on to the intelligence department of the Army. He said the JTF relied on a tip off that some of cultists were hiding in a hotel along the East-West road, and they immediately stormed the place.
His words: 'The houses earmarked for cordon and search is based on intelligence reports. We are to ensure that all the houses are diligently and carefully searched without molesting the house owners, their neighbours and even the villagers."
He continued that the operation was led by the General Staff Officer in charge of Training and Operations 2nd Amphibious Brigade, Lt. Col, A. U Mohammed. Major Musa said the community had pleaded with the JTF not to withdraw its troop immediately from the area as there were fears that the cultists could storm the place on a reprisal mission.
It would be recalled that three chiefs and two women were reportedly killed by suspected cultists in Ogbogoro Wednesday.
Still on the incident, the Rivers state Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, while confirming the death of five persons in the cult crisis that engulfed Ogogbolo community in the state on Thursday three chiefs and two women said that crisis broke out in the area after the community carried out some traditional rites to rid the town of militant and criminal activities. Those unsatisfied with the action, he said carried