The Rivers State Police Command claimed its personnel killed three suspected cultists following a gunfight on Sunday evening in the Udebu community of the state’s Ahoada East Local Government Area.
According to sources, when the police raided the Ahoada East and West Local Government Areas, members of the Iceland and Greenland cult organisations terrorising the area had mobilised for a dominance struggle.
The operatives, who acted on a tip-off, arrived at the scene around 5pm and returned fire immediately the suspected cultists shot at them, leading to the death of three persons.
According to source, the leader of one of the gangs and others escaped with bullet wounds.
The source said, “After they opened fire on the men from the Ahoada Police Division, one of the cultists called Bright and two others were killed.
“But one man who is a gang leader and two others escaped with injuries because the police shot them.”
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that one locally-fabricated G-3 rifle, a locally-fabricated pistol which uses AK-47 ammunition, charms and other weapons were recovered from the suspects.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said, “Yes I can confirm that three cultists were killed. The cultists were engaging in a supremacy battle when we (the police) received credible information and mobilised our men.
“Three of them were neutralised. An investigation is still on to apprehend other gang members and ensure that they face the law.”