The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old suspected cultist, Samuel Nwokoma, and recovered seven packs of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, and one long detonating wire as well as arms and ammunition from the hideout of a suspected cult gang at Ogwu Waterside in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said that Nwokoma, a member of the Blood Star cult group, has been identified as being involved in a series of cult-related killings within the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
She said the suspect confessed to his involvement in the killing of two persons, Ede Sunday, aged 32, and George Johnson, aged 28, who were killed in Diobu on March 14 and March 16, 2024, respectively.
The arms and ammunition recovered during the raid on the hideout included three AK-47 rifles, one assault rifle, six AK-47 magazines and one Beretta pistol as well as 274 rounds of 7.6mm live ammunition, 105 rounds of 6.55 live ammunition and nine rounds of .9mm ammunition.
Parts of the statement read: “Rivers State Police Command, in collaboration with the C4i Strike Force and Diobu Vigilante, has made significant progress in addressing the recent wave of cult-related attacks and killings in the Diobu area of Mile One, Port Harcourt
“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 (BS) 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, Dioubu, Port Harcourt.
“In a significant breakthrough, Samuel Nwokoma led Police Operatives to the gang’s hideout at Ogwu Waterside, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
“The search conducted at the hideout yielded substantial evidence in the form of recovered arms and ammunition.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olatunji Disu, has called on members of Diobu community to continue to cooperate with the police by providing relevant information that could lead to the arrest of criminals terrorizing the community.
