Rivers police kill cult commander during shootout

The police in Rivers State on Monday gunned down the commander of a dreaded cult group called ‘Greenlanders’ during a shootout in the Owube Kingdom in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.

The cult commander identified as Izuma David Odiereke, a.k.a ‘Solution’, has been on the wanted list of the police for nearly ten years.

When operatives raided his camp located in a forest in the area, he reportedly opened fire and tried to escape but was subdued by superior firepower at about 4 am on Monday.

Briefing newsmen at the Area Command in Ahoada on Monday, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, described the cult commander as a serial killer.

Disu said the killed cult commander had been on the police wanted list since 2016, stating that his clan was deserted due to his criminal activities.

He stated, “His reign came to an end when the command took men to his camp at Api forest between Odiereke Ubie and Joinkarama 4 in the Ahoada West LGA.

“Attempts were made to capture him three days ago, but he escaped. We continued to lay siege on him.

“We have been having a series of attacks from this so-called General Odiereke, who has just been killed, alias ‘Solution’.

“He has been on the wanted list since 2016. He has been a serial killer. A lot of people have died at his hands.

“Nobody could fish, nobody could go to the farm because of this man. He was the king of the jungle. He came to town in Ahoada West in Ibiza Clan to be precise.

“The clan and the community had been deserted because anybody who comes around, he kills and escapes at will. He was doing everything he wanted.

“We are so happy that today officers of the command led by the DOOR went after him and luckily for us, they got him. So, this is the end of the era of ‘General Solution’.”

CP Disu disclosed that the killed cult kingpin was responsible for the death of the paramount ruler in the area in February this year, among nine notable names murdered by his gang.

He commended operatives of the Ahoada Area Command and Division for their dedication and commitment to the fight against crime and criminality and urged them not to rest on their laurels.

Meanwhile, a mammoth crowd of natives of both Ahoada East and West LGA trooped out to cheer the Commissioner of Police and his team on the feat achieved.

Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman of the Ahoada East LGA, Ben Ekes, expressed happiness, saying, “Even if he is from Ahoada West and killed in Ahoada West, the criminality will reduce in my local government.”

Similarly, Seji Ebenezer, Paramount Ruler of the Owube community, where the cult leader hailed from, said, “The community is so excited. The young man has been terrorising the community.

“He is a serial killer, kidnapper, and notorious cultist.”