Seven killed in new
cult attack in Port Harcourt
By Psaro Yornamue
Senior
Correspondent, Port Harcourt
Odudu Okpongete
Snr.
Correspondent, PH
In
what looks like an orchestrated campaign to plunge Port Harcourt into
confusion, cultists on Sunday morning launched a fresh attack in the city, killing
several people and destroying numerous houses at the Marine Base settlement.
They
also invaded part of the Federal Ocean Terminal in the Rives State capital.
About
seven persons were reportedly killed; however, Police Commissioner Sylvester
Araba confirmed in an interview that three died.
Eyewitnesses
claimed that four of the dead were cultists. A nine year-old girl was killed
when the attackers threw dynamite into her house.
It
was learnt that the cult group, believed to be that of Asari Dokubo, struck in
search of the its rival, led by
Ateke Tom. The invasion came seven days after the Njemanze community was set
ablaze.
The
cult group was said to have shifted to part of the Federal Ocean Terminal in
three flying boats, having failed to fish out Ateke, leader of the Niger Delta
Vigilante group.
However,
another account by a resident who spoke in confidence claimed that the Green
Landers Cult clashed with an unnamed group.
Among
the several houses destroyed is the one belonging to a member of the House of
Representatives, George Sekibo, who represents Okrika/Ogu-Bolo federal
constituency.
It
was difficult to get first-hand information on the level of destruction as a
combined team of mobile policemen and soldiers had cordoned-off the entire
vicinity.
Some
residents managed to escape before the security men arrived around 5 a.m. in
five speed boats through the cemetery waterside and moved straight into Marine
Base.
The
combined team was said to have prevented the cultists from taking control of the
Marine Base jetty, Okrika and Amadi waterfronts. The shooting lasted till
11a.m.
By
2 a.m., most residents were still being trapped inside their homes and were
afraid to venture outside for fear of being hit by stray bullets. Some who
escaped through footpaths fled with their belongings.
The
shooting also triggered off the mass exodus of people from Amadi-Ama to the
roundabout around 6 a.m.
Araba
said on Sunday that seven members of the cult have been arrested, but he did
not say which group was involved in the attack.
Penultimate Sunday, a cult group known as De Gbam attacked
the Njemanze water front around 11 p.m., killing five persons. Besides, it set
several homes on fire.
