Posted by From Okon Bassey in Port Harcourt - ThisDay Online on
Barely a week after more than 25 persons were reportedly killed at Ataba community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, no fewer than 10 persons have again been feared killed in Port Harcourt, the state capital Sunday night, following alleged cult attack.
Barely a week after more than 25 persons were reportedly killed at Ataba community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, no fewer than 10 persons have again been feared killed in Port Harcourt, the state capital Sunday night, following alleged cult attack.
THISDAY gathered that at about 11:30 p.m Sunday night, a yet to be identified cult group invaded the Njemanze Water Front in ward 11, Diobu, Port Harcourt killing at least 10 people, wounding many others and torching over 50 houses.
The torching of the houses in the area has caused a major refugee crisis in Port Harcourt as more than 20,000 persons have been rendered homeless.
Corpses of some of the dead persons in the incident have been deposited at the BMW mortuary while those wounded were taken to the hospital for medical attention.
When THISDAY visited the scence of the incident yesterday, lorries and buses were seen loading household properties of those who survived the fire.
Those who spoke to THISDAY said they were fleeing the area because their safety is not guaranteed. The Njemanze Water Front is one of the thickly populated slums in the city.
The immediate cause of the attack could not be ascertained as at press time but investigations revealed that the cult group was on a repraisal attack on vigilante group operating in the area.
Because of the activities of the cult group in the area which had resulted in indiscriminate killing of people, the vigilante body was said to have mobilized against the cult group.
Sources told THISDAY that the members of the vigilante body in the area were taken unaware as the attackers, shortly on arrival in the community, opened fire on and launched dynamite explosion into the premises of the suspected leader of the vigilante body.
It was learnt that the heavy shootings and sounds of the explosions ignited the fire which burnt down more that 50 buildings
Sources disclosed that it was a combined team of policemen and fire figthers stopped the fire from spreading to the adjoining areas.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr, Sylvester Araba, confirmed the report, but said that five persons are confirmed dead and taken to the mortuary.
He disclsed that nine persons have been arrested in connection with the crisis in the area, adding that investigation was in progress.