Suspected cult members invaded three communities in Rivers State on Monday and killed 12 persons.
Sources said seven persons were killed in Kaani Babbe community, Khana LGA, while five persons, including a 64-year-old man, were killed in Rumuohia and Rumuche communities of Emohua LGA.
Last Sunday, eight persons died as suspected cult group stormed Mgbuodohia community, Rumuolumeni in Obio/Akpor LGA where the governor, Nyesom Wike, hails from.
The latest attack on Monday, sources say, was a reprisal as members of a cult group were attacked on their way to a funeral.
National leader of Ogoni Peoples Conscience, Gani Topba, said the gunmen began their attacks on residents as early as 5am on Monday.
Mr Topba said: “The level of killings in Ogoni has been very high and what happened on Monday was not new. The people were sleeping in their homes when the gunmen invaded the area and killed them.
“Government at all levels must know that security is their obligation and they should take it seriously. If they can stop the killings in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, they can also stop the killings in Ogoni. Government should know that Ogoni is part of Nigeria and also needs protection.”
Rivers police spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the killings in Khana, but was unhappy with the lack of cooperation from the locals.
“The DPO in charge of the affected area in Khana said that it was a cult-related incident. The families of the deceased went away with their corpses without allowing the police to catch a glimpse of the bodies for investigation purposes.
“The communities are not willing to give information and that is our challenge. The boys, who perpetrated this act, live in the communities; the people know them. They (communities) should give us information so that we can fight these common enemies,” he said.
