Gunmen suspected to be cultists have shot dead the Vice Chairman of Obelle Council of Chiefs in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Ferdinand Dabiri, on Saturday evening.
It was gathered that the assailants, who are suspected members of the dreaded Iceland cult led by one ‘Cairo’, stormed a location where Dabiri and other chiefs were holding meetings and carried out the attack.
‘Cairo’, who led the attack, was said to have alighted from a motorbike with a gun, walked straight to Chief Dabiri, shot him twice and zoomed off with his men, leaving the man in a pool of his own blood.
The incident caused pandemonium as other chiefs scampered for safety after witnessing what looked like a movie scene, even as some villagers also fled the community for fear of being caught in the crossfire.
The son of the deceased identified as Joseph Dabiri confirmed the incident to newsmen in Port Harcourt during a telephone chat.
Joseph stated, “I heard that a guy came with a gun while my father was in a meeting at Omuwoka village in Obelle, a man came and shot at him.
“Then somebody grabbed him (gunman), but he struggled and freed himself from the man’s grip and shot my dad again twice and fled.”
The victim’s second son further said the incident has been reported to the Rumuji Police Division, while demanding justice for his late father.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the investigation is ongoing.
“I can confirm the incident. From the situation report, I got that ‘Cairo’ went to the Obelle community and shot somebody while they were holding a meeting.
“The command has commenced an investigation into the matter to ensure the perpetrators will be identified and made to face justice.
“The deceased corpse has been deposited in the morgue,” Iringe-Koko stated.
