Notorious cultist killed in shootout with police in Rivers, arms recovered

A 28-year-old suspected cultist identified as Azunda Elechi has reportedly been killed by the Rivers State Police Command.

A statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the deceased, who hails from Omofo Community Ndele, in Emohua Local Council of the state, died in a gun duel with police.

The statement added that the notorious criminal waz a member of the Dey-Gbam cult group terrorising the community.

Iringe-Koko said Elechi was among those who carried out an attack at Mgbola Village, Ndele Emohua Local Council on Tuesday, May 30, where four persons were killed, the police said.

“On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, the Dey-Gbam cult group invaded the community. In a shootout between the cultists and the police/local vigilantes, Azunda Elechi, ‘m’, was fatally injured. One pump action and two live cartridges with three empty cartridge shells were recovered,” she said.

Iringe-Koko further said the Commissioner of Police, (CP) Nwonyi Emeka has urged parents/guardians to monitor the activities of their children/wards, to ensure they do not succumb to societal pressures to commit crime. She, however, enjoined members of the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities in their neighbourhood to the police.