TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Nigeria, May 01, 2016 – Armed men, suspected to be cultists at the weekend unleashed mayhem in two villages in Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State, killing 16 people.
The killings started around 1pm last Saturday when the gunmen first stormed Ula-Apata village and started shooting indiscriminately at people of the area. The gunmen, according to an eye witness, who escaped from one of the villages had first attacked Ula-Upata and killed 12 persons, left and returned around 9pm and killed two more persons
He added that the gunmen later moved to Edoha, a nearby village and beheaded five persons, leaving the dismembered body parts on the road.
During the separate attacks, many were able to flee the villages to neighbouring communities, and into the bush.
“Yesterday was a bloody day at Ula-upata and Edoha communities. Unknown gunmen went berserk and killed 19 persons at Ula- upata and Edoha respectively. As if they were not satisfied with the killing spree they reappeared again at about 9.00pm in the night and killed another 2 persons. They later moved to Edoha, a near-by village to Ula- upata and beheaded five persons. The heads of the victims were littered along Edoha road”.
When contacted Rivers State assistant police public relation officer, Grace Koko said the attacks were carried out by cultists fighting a war of supremacy. She, however, said that only two persons were confirmed dead during the attack.
