- Policeman, Vigilante Killed in Rivers State Amid Rising Cult Violence
- Iheanachor is among the administrators appointed by the Sole Administrator of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State
- Iringe Koko stated that members of the Iceland cult group attacked the local vigilante group
A police officer and a vigilante member were killed on Monday night in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State by suspected cultists.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the attack may have been triggered by a recent assault on the Ahoada East Local Government Administrator, Goodluck Ineanachor, who was attacked by a group of hoodlums last Friday.
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Reports indicate that about 30 armed individuals stormed the council premises, assaulted Ineanachor, confiscated official documents, took his mobile phone, and forced him to sign a resignation letter.
Iheanachor is among the administrators appointed by the Sole Administrator of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retired), to oversee council affairs.
In response to the incident, the police summoned the Chief Security Officer and the Chief of Staff of the local government for questioning, accusing them of leading the assailants who assaulted the administrator.
It was gathered that the two men killed were security operatives assigned to protect the local government secretariat following last Friday’s invasion, before another group of attackers, reportedly on motorcycles, arrived and carried out the shooting.
The Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe Koko, confirmed the killings in a statement issued on Tuesday. She stated that members of the Iceland cult group attacked the local vigilante group known as OSPAC, which stands for Onelga Security Peace Advisory Committee, opening fire on its members.
She further confirmed that the cultists fatally shot the vigilante and also killed a police corporal assigned to special duty at the Ahoada East local government secretariat.
The statement partly read, “The Rivers State Police Command condemns the brutal attack carried out by suspected cultists on June 23, 2025, at about 8 pm.
“Armed assailants, led by two men, Umegbewe Kingsley a.k.a. ‘Gutam’ and one Opaka (surname unknown), believed to be leaders of the Iceland cult group, stormed the OSPAC office beside the Ahoada East Council Secretariat and opened fire on its operatives.
“During the assault, OSPAC operative, Ngozi Ipah was shot.
“While escaping, the assailants also gunned down a police officer, Corporal Francis Friday, who was on special duty at the secretariat with the Special Intervention Squad.”
Iringe Koko further stated that police operatives responded swiftly, with patrol teams led by the Divisional Police Officer arriving at the scene. However, the attackers had already escaped by the time officers arrived.
The injured victims were rushed to the hospital, but both were confirmed dead. Their remains have been deposited in the hospital morgue.
“Both victims were rushed to the Ahoada General Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds but were pronounced dead on arrival.
“Their bodies have been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy,” Iringe-Koko concluded.
