Police in Rivers communities reject cultists’ N10 million levy

The Rivers State Police Command stated that it was not aware of any tax levied on any community in the state’s Ahoada West Local Government Area by suspected cultists.

Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the state Police Command, stated this after a stakeholder in Ahoada West raised the alert that suspected cultists were seeking a N10 million security charge in various communities in the area.

However, Superintendent of Police Iringe-Koko urged stakeholders in the impacted villages to file a formal complaint with the police about the occurrence.

“For the time being, the Command is not aware of any levy imposed on any community in Ahoada or any other community in Rivers State,” she said.If such a circumstance arises, we anticipate local residents or stakeholders to file an official report with the Ahoada Division.

“They can even come to command headquarters and report the situation because if they don’t report, how will the police know what they claim is happening?”

She stated that the police were working around the clock to cleanse communities in the state of criminal groups and to apprehend suspected criminals.
While speaking anonymously on Nigeria Info, a Port Harcourt-based radio station monitored by our correspondent, a stakeholder claimed that certain villages in the local government area were already giving N100,000 per household to make up the N10 million fee, which they referred to as “survival money.”

According to the stakeholder, on the same day that Ahoada Divisional Police Officer Bako Angbashim was assassinated, cult gangs in Ahoada West LGA issued messages to other villages advising them to pay the cash or face repercussions.

“On the same day they killed the DPO, the gang (of cultists) in Ahoada West began sending messages to various communities demanding N10m before the end of the month, or else they would come and burn down the entire community.”They (communities) are now paying N100,000 for survival, which is unacceptable. There’s even word that the man they’re looking for, Gift David, has moved from Ahoada East to Ahoada West.

Read Also: NCC Makes Grant Offer of N10 Million for 2023 Hackathon Talent Hunt

“Palliatives brought to us were relocated and delivered to these boys in their various hideouts.” When we say we want to combat insecurity, the government should mean it.”

He also urged the state government and security services to focus their efforts on Ahoada West, where he believes the main suspect is hiding.

“The State Government, Nigeria Police, and other relevant security agencies should come to Ahoada West and comb the area,” the stakeholder stated. Gift Okpara is located in Ahoada West. When the man comes close, they should cease looking away.

“He (Gift Okpara) is no longer in Ahoada East; he is now in Ahoada West.” They should direct their attention on Ahoada West and assist us. There was a period when the late Bako Angbashim invaded some settlements in Ahoada West.”

When reached, Madu Madueke, the Supervisor for Information, Media, and Communication in Ahoada West LGA, denied the accusation that cultists imposed N10m on some community in Ahoada West.

“The local government is not a ward or village where you can say the entire communities in Ahoada West are contributing money to a group of people,” he explained. “The story is false.”

Attempts to reach Mr Boniface Onyedi, the State Governor’s media aide, were futile because he did not react to repeated calls placed by our correspondent.

As of the time of reporting this article on Sunday evening, Onyedi had not to respond to text and WhatsApp messages addressed to him.