Ogoni chiefs, residents flee community over cult attacks
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, said he had ordered fresh deployment of operatives to Bodo City in Gokana Local Government Area of the state to forestall further security breaches.
This came as a traditional ruler and some chiefs in the area fled the community following a fresh attack by suspected cultists, who invaded the place on Monday.
Recall that two youths on surveillance duty at a pipeline belonging to Shell in the area were shot dead by the rampaging cultists days after an oil spill occurred from the Trans Niger Pipeline over a fortnight ago.
Also on Monday, it was gathered that some dare-devil gunmen stormed the community and killed a yet-to-be-identified youth.
The latest onslaught caused pandemonium as some residents, including chiefs, fled to safer towns for fear of being killed.
The Vice Chairman of the Bodo Council of Traditional Rulers, Joseph Kpobia, while speaking to newsmen, raised the alarm that his life and those of other chiefs were in danger, as they were being threatened by the miscreants.
He revealed that he was on the wanted list of the cultists who he said wanted to kill him.
Kpobia stated, “Old men and women in this community are hiding in their houses because some people are sending these bad boys to come and spoil our peaceful community.
“Even as I speak, my name is with them; even the traditional rulers’ names are in their hands to kill all of us. So, I beg the state governor to come and help secure this community so that we, our mothers and our children shall know peace again.”
Speaking to our correspondent on Wednesday, the Regent of the Bodo Community, Mene Joseph Kpai, confirmed that some persons, including chiefs, were in hiding.
Kpai, said, “Yes, it is true, though I am in Bodo, not in my house. I am outside, I went for something.”
Asked if there was security presence in the area, his response was negative, saying the hoodlums struck again immediately after they sensed that peace had returned to the community.
He stated, “On Monday after they (cultists) attacked, people were running but later there was calm. Even the first attack two weeks ago, there was calm, but just on Monday, they struck again.
On the number of chiefs that have fled the area due to the attack, he said, “If I were at home I would have told you. But I do know that some of them have left home.”
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the state CP, Emeka Nwonyi, said he had personally met with the chiefs and other stakeholders in the area and charted the way forward, even as he expressed surprise at the latest developments
He said, “I have already directed that some men be deployed there. So, anytime from now, they will move. Though we don’t have enough operatives, I’m trying to see where to pick out some men to that place (Bodo) to beef up the security there.”
