Police kill cultist behind murder of Rivers Couple, four officers

According to the Rivers State Police Command, its agents have eliminated Nkem ThankGod, a notorious cult leader and kidnap kingpin who is accused of killing four police officers, a couple, and committing numerous other crimes.

According to the police, a youth leader was also killed by the 42-year-old murder suspect known as 2man, who was from Ogbologbolo Community in the state’s Ahoada West Local Government Area.

This was revealed by Mustapha Mohammed, the Commissioner of Police, during a news briefing on Thursday at the command headquarters along Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, where he presented the miscreant’s lifeless body.

Mohammed said the criminal met his Waterloo after an intelligence-led operation while trying to kidnap a target with his gang in the state’s Ahoada East Local Government Area on Thursday afternoon. He also noted that his crimes included murder, kidnapping, and attacks on government buildings and oil pipelines.

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The hoodlum had been on the police wanted list since 2021 for a variety of offenses, including the murder of a man and his wife, according to the CP, who also claimed that he had been hopping around to avoid capture.

He declared, “Men from the Rivers State Police Command have effectively eliminated Nkem, a well-known kidnap ringleader and murder suspect.” ThankGod, 42, from Ogbologbolo Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area, also goes as “2man.”

“This person, a leader of the Greenlander Cult Group, was accountable for a number of horrible crimes in Ahoada East and Ahoada West LGAs, including the December 21, 2021, murder of Mr. Christmas Ede, the youth president of Okogbe Community in Ahoada West LGA.

“After collecting ransom, he is also accountable for the murders of three civilians (Mr. and Mrs. Rex Kiriki and Mrs. Abigail Victor), two police officers who were part of the PMF 48, and a spare parts dealer in 2024.”

“He also stole their Toyota Hilux and killed two Shell employees in Okogbe, Ahoada West LGA.”

“Two men shot SP Bello during a rescue operation in 2022 and killed two Rapid Response Team officers in early 2023,” the state police chief said in reference to attacks on police officers.

In October 2024, a red Toyota Camry was kidnapped and stolen from Dare Shola. planning many kidnappings, demanding ransom, and then murdering the victims.

He was frequently implicated in the destruction of government buildings and oil pipelines in Ahoada West.

“Nkem ThankGod attempted another kidnapping but was killed during an intelligence-led operation. “Efforts are underway to apprehend his gang members who were injured but managed to escape,” the CP revealed.

He stated that two AK-47 rifles, five magazines, and twenty-two rounds of live ammo were among the goods found on him.

Noting that the police under his supervision would turn the state into a hellhole for criminal elements, the CP reiterated the command’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens.

Mohammed, however, said the police would keep up their efforts to break up criminal networks and asked the public’s support in providing helpful information about suspicious activity in their neighborhood so that swift action could be taken.