A clash between rival groups in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State on Friday evening has resulted in the death of at least one person.
Social media videos circulating virally depicted a group of youths transporting an individual with a gunshot wound. However, according to information gathered by Channels Television’s correspondent, the disturbance began when a group accompanying the remains of Late Madam Rhoda Abbey, a community native, in a casket for burial, was assaulted by another group believed to be associated with an ex-militant warlord in the region, commonly known as Amama soldiers.
The exact trigger for the confrontation remains unclear, but it has resulted in the confirmed death of at least one person, with an unspecified number of individuals sustaining injuries.
Confirming the incident on Sunday via a WhatsApp voice note, the spokesperson of the Rivers state Police Command Grace Iringe-Koko, said, “The Command is aware of the incident that occurred in Degema Community where some youths were carrying a corpse in a casket for a burial now had a clash with amama soldiers along the Degema market junction.”
Speaking further she said, “Immediately the DPO swung into action and deployed his patrol team to the scene. Monitoring still continued and already the CP has deployed adequate security to that community to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order. Inversions are ongoing to that effect and anyone found wanting will face the full wrath of the law.”
Meanwhile, a list obtained from the community purportedly outlines individuals who are either missing or deceased due to the incident. However, the police have refrained from commenting on the accuracy of this list.