Suspected cultists kill ex-youth leader in Rivers

Suspected cultists in the early hours of Wednesday, suspected cultists shot and killed a former youth leader, Godspower Uwhetu, in the Odhiaje community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants, believed to be about five in number, stormed Uwhetu’s residence around 1 a.m., forcibly dragged him outside, and shot him dead in front of his home before fleeing the scene.

Confirming the incident, a former Public Relations Officer of the Igbu Akoh Youth Congress, Hector Ekeakita, linked the murder to ongoing tensions in the area.

“This morning, we woke up to the news that Godspower Uwhetu, a former youth leader in Odhiaje, was killed,” Ekeakita said.

 “Before his death, a woman known as Sam had accused him of inviting soldiers to raid her son’s house. Since then, Uwhetu had gone into hiding.”

According to Ekeakita, Uwhetu had confided in friends that if anything happened to him, Sam should be held responsible. “Now we’ve woken up to find him murdered,” he added.

Ekeakita also alleged that Sam is a known loyalist of a cult group leader identified as “2Baba,” who reportedly escaped a recent security raid.

He further decried the persistent violence plaguing the Igbu Akoh Kingdom.

“We still hear gunshots daily. Just last week, properties were vandalized in Odieke-Akoh. We’re calling on the Sole Administrator, the Police, the Nigerian Air Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the military to intervene before things spiral further out of control.”

He appealed for a stronger security presence in the region, urging authorities to “fish out the boys who are determined to disrupt peace in Ekpeye land.”

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, were unsuccessful, as calls to her mobile phone went unanswered.

As of press time, she had yet to respond to a text message seeking comment.