The Nigeria Police in Rivers State said its operatives killed two of the suspected cultists who invaded and killed five natives of Odiemerenyi community in Ahoada East Local Government Area on Sunday morning.
The police said the cultists were gang members of the wanted kingpin, David Gift, aka 2-Baba, who captured and killed the Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada, SP Bako Angbanshin, in September.
The spokesperson for the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday and sent to newsmen.
She said the feat followed credible intelligence that the miscreants were searching police informants, when operatives immediately moved in.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, re-echoed the command’s commitment to arrest the wanted leader of the Iceland cult gang, 2-Baba and other fleeing suspected cultists wherever they might be and bring them to justice.
The statement reads, “Operatives of the Ahoada Police Station received a distress call at about 01:00hours on Sunday morning, November 12, 2023, that some suspected cultists loyal to the wanted David Gift aka 2Baba invaded Odiemerenyi community in search of suspected police informants.
“The police division on receipt of the information swung into action and mobilised with other tactical units to the scene.
“On getting to the community, the hoodlums who unfortunately, had killed five natives before the arrival of the police opened fire on sighting the police.
“The hoodlums were, however, overpowered by the superior firepower of the police as two of the suspected cultists were fatally wounded.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police has ordered the Ahoada Police Division and other tactical units to redouble efforts to ensure David Gift and other fleeing suspects are arrested.
“The CP called on residents of the community and other communities in Ahoada East to go about their legitimate business as adequate security is in place to counter any security challenge that may be instigated by criminal elements.
“The CP equally condoled with the family of the natives who lost their lives in the attack.”