Army Accuses Lawmaker, Monarch Of Sponsoring Killings In Rivers

The Nigerian Army has accused an unnamed member of the House of Representatives and a traditional ruler of sponsoring the continued cult-related killings in Ahoada East LGA of Rivers State.

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major General Enobong Udoh, made this allegation when the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, met with traditional rulers in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Udoh pointed out that while the lawmaker was sponsoring the Icelanders, the traditional ruler was financing the Greenlanders.

He recalled that he had summoned the monarch and the lawmaker to react to the allegation against them by members of the public.

“The issue of Ahoada East; I am aware of what is happening there. It is an issue between two cult groups, Icelanders and Greenlanders. But the unfortunate thing I was made to understand is that two personalities, the King of Ozochi community, who is said to be sponsoring the Greenlanders and a member of House of Representatives, who is said to be sponsoring the Icelanders.

“They were said to be responsible for the killings in Ozochi community. Ozochi is a riverine community. They are causing serious security challenges. I have invited both sponsors. The people who ran to us said unless these two persons are brought to terms, there will not be peace,” Udoh added.

However, Buratai, who was reacting to the situation in the area, explained that army did not have 100 per cent responsibility to contain the cult-related killings, even as he promised that the army would help to deal with the security challenges in the area.

He added that the army, police and other security agencies would work together to stamp out killings in the local government areas.

According to him, “It is not 100 per cent the military’s responsibility. But we will work very closely with the police and other security agencies to tackle the problem. Cultism is a big menace in the society, but if addressed, the crisis in our society will reduce.”

The Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Dandeson Jaja, the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, had earlier expressed the need for the Army to recruit more hands to be able to fight insecurity in Nigeria.

“With the activities of Boko Haram and other agitators and the pressure on the Army for protection of infrastructure, regular personnel available for operations in defence of our country will certainly fall far short of an Army that can defend our country’s territorial integrity.

“So, we call on the Federal Government to recruit more able bodied Nigerians to shore up the strength of the Army,” the monarch said.