Tony John, Port Harcourt
A man suspected to be a cultist operating around Elele town in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has been shot dead.
Daily Sun gathered that Chiwekpe Nguzo, 42, was ambushed and killed by unknown gunmen, also suspected to be cultists, during a shoot out within Elele town roundabout.
Austin Amadi, a source who is and close relative to the slain man, disclosed that Nguzo, suspected to be acting as an informant to security operatives in the area, was shot dead by the hoodlums who trailed him to his hideout.
“We were all together with Chiwekpe Nguzo in a relaxing place within the roundabout in the community. Not quite 15 minutes [after] I left the place, another of my friends called me to tell me that, as he speaks with me now, Chiwekpe Nguzo has died. I said ‘no it can’t be because I was with him’. But when I reached there, it was real,” Amadi said in his recollection.
“My friend told me that some boys on motorcycles came, shot him and zoomed off. Our community was forced to go to bed early because of the killing.”
A senior police officer at Elele Division (name withheld) also confirmed the incident to journalists, giving assurances that investigations have commenced to apprehend the perpetrators.
“We were not informed earlier. They told us almost one hour after the hoodlums had left the scene. We have always encouraged members of the public to try as much as they can to get us informed in cases like this so we can immediately swing into action. For this case, we must apprehend the perpetrators,” the police source said.