Owerri Cult war: Samuelson Iwuoha, Wife Arrested, As Fresh Killings Continue
The cult war that is said to be ravaging Owerri, the Imo State Capital since last weekend has claimed more lives not less than four according to the state police command even as citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha, his wife and 25 others are facing police interrogation over his relationship with a cult group and murder in his Ikenegbu residence of the state capital.
Residents of Owerri were on Saturday last week greeted to orgy of violence and killings said to be related to cult war between two rival cults in the state.
As at Saturday two people were guned down by suspected rival cult groups. The following reprisal attack also recorded more casualties.
Briefing selected newsmen at the command headquarters, Owerri, the state police public relations officer, Andrew Enwere, a DSP, disclosed that in the course of investigation, four people were gruesomely murdered at different Locations in the state capital.
According to the police spokesman, the four persons and their true identities have not been ascertained as at time of briefing to press because it was still conducting investigation on the incidents.
Meanwhile, Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha is telling the police what he knows about the serial killings in Owerri.
Iwuoha and wife ran into trouble when a notorious drinking bar they both run within their Elezianya crescent, Ikenegbu home which also serves as a rallying point for a particular cult group erupted Tuesday killing one and maiming many. According to Samuelson who spoke to the press at the police headquarter, Owerri, while facing interrogation, on meeting the police in front of his house, he introduced himself before they asked him to open the door and after searching the entire premises he was arrested with the wife.
Though Samuelson confirmed that he saw a dead body of a young-man around his house. The wife also confirmed that she heard gunshots and noise but could not ascertain what led to it. Reacting on Iwuoha's arrest the police spokesman added that they found stains of blood showing that the young man was killed at Samuelson premises. He maintained that those arrested in connection to the serial killings in the State are all suspected murderers including Samuelson Iwuoha.
On measures police is adopting to tackle the ugly trend, the PRO said the state police commissioner has declared 'Operation Rainbow' aimed at torpedoing the illicit acts of the suspected cultists adding that policemen on duty within the metropolis may shoot at sight persons found with dangerous or implicating items connected with the cult war.
Some residents of Owerri especially in Ikenebgu area who spoke to newsmen on the issue complained that they have been living in perpetual fear since Saturday because of the cult war. They pleaded that the Government should do every possible to stop the fight.