A group of suspected cult members reportedly shot and killed a police officer and a vigilante in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday night.
Information obtained by PUNCH Online indicates the shooting may be connected to the recent attack on Ahoada East LG Administrator, Goodluck Ineanachor, who was assaulted by a group of hoodlums last Friday.
It will be recalled that the assailants, numbering around 30, stormed the local council secretariat, physically assaulted Ineanachor, made away with documents from his office, took his phone, and coerced him into signing a resignation letter.
Iheanachor is among the LG Administrators appointed across the 23 local councils in the state by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).
Following that incident, the police invited the council’s Chief Security Officer and Chief of Staff for interrogation, accusing them of being involved in orchestrating the assault on the LG boss.
According to reports, the two slain security operatives were stationed at the secretariat for protection following the Friday attack, before the assailants arrived on motorcycles and opened fire.
Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the deaths in a statement issued on Tuesday.
In the statement circulated to the press, she said the attackers were members of the Iceland cult group, who stormed the local vigilante base known as OSPAC (Onelga Security Peace Advisory Committee), and opened fire.
She noted that the assault led to the death of the vigilante member, and the attackers also killed a police officer assigned to special duty at the Ahoada East council secretariat.
“The Rivers State Police Command condemns the brutal attack carried out by suspected cultists on June 23, 2025, at about 8 pm.
Armed assailants, led by two men, Umegbewe Kingsley a.k.a. ‘Gutam’ and one Opaka (surname unknown), believed to be leaders of the Iceland cult group, stormed the OSPAC office beside the Ahoada East Council Secretariat and opened fire on its operatives.
During the assault, OSPAC operative, Ngozi Ipah was shot.
While escaping, the assailants also gunned down a police officer, Corporal Francis Friday, who was on special duty at the secretariat with the Special Intervention Squad.”
Iringe-Koko added that police personnel, led by the Divisional Police Officer, responded promptly but the assailants had already escaped by the time they arrived.
She further noted that the victims were rushed to the hospital, but both were confirmed dead and their remains have been deposited at the morgue.
“Both victims were rushed to the Ahoada General Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds but were pronounced dead on arrival.
Their bodies have been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy,” Iringe-Koko concluded.
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