By Davies Iheamnachor

PORT HARCOURT—Tears flowed freely on Christmas Day in Omoku Town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, as unidentified gunmen suspected to be members of a cult group killed over eight people in a co-ordinated attack in the area.

A source, who witnessed the incidence, told Vanguard that : “On the eve of Christmas around 9 pm, I was with a friend when we started hearing gunshots. As usual, people started running for safety.

“They were wearing  military uniform and armed to the teeth. They were shooting from every direction. All the people that came out that night to celebrate Christmas Eve ran back to their houses.

“In the morning, I took a walk around the area and I confirmed seven corpses. Two Hausa men, who may have been hit by stray bullets were among. A member of Joint-Security Task Force was also among.

“At the moment we don’t know the actual cause of the attack, but we heard that the cult boys are angry, claiming that the state government settled a cult group and abandoned them. They said they will not stop the attacks until the government compensates them.”

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, said the police is not aware of the incident but said that he would call District Police Officer in ONELGA to confirm the news.

Chief Ezegohuru Eluozo, blamed the incident on politicians in the area, noting that cultists were empowered during the re-run election.

He said the bandits invaded Palace Road and two other streets in the area, adding that no fewer than eight people died in the incident.

Meantime, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of ONELGA, Mr. Osi Olisa, has banned the operation of commercial motorcyclists (Okada) in the area from 7pm and 7am.

Olisa urged okada operators to adhere to the directive and warned that anyone who violates the ban would be punished.