Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has threatened to come after traditional rulers supporting cultism in the state, News About Nigeria reports.
This was disclosed in a statement shared through the Governor’s verified X account on Monday, September 11.
In his short statement, Governor Fubara said, “Any traditional ruler, even if he’s from my place, who’s supporting cultism, I assure you that as I have started with Ahoada, I will come after you.”
Recently, there have been heightened concerns over cult-related violence within Rivers state shanty towns, leading to different forms of extortion and killings.
The most recent is the brutal killing of one of the state’s Divisional Police Officers (DPO) Bako Angbashim on Friday, September 8, 2023.
The story which has since gone viral occurred when suspected cultists ambushed and beheaded the DPO Angbashim, in the Odemude community, while on routine check in Ahoada East Local Government Area, with some other police officers.
One individual, Gift Okpara, known as “2-baba,” has been identified as the prime suspect in the DPO’s murder. Meanwhile, in a bid to bring Okpara to justice, Governor Fubara has offered a ₦100 million reward for information leading to Okpara’s arrest and prosecution.
Additionally, the governor took swift action after the incident, by suspending the traditional ruler of the area, Eze Igbu Akoh II.
The suspension was attributed to the ruler’s alleged negligence, which allowed the notorious criminal and his gang to operate freely within his territory, conducting criminal activities without any form of restraint.
While the investigation into the DPO’s killing is ongoing, the police are said to have made some arrests related to the incident.
https://twitter.com/SimFubaraKSC/status/1701211394589278582?s=20
