Police in Rivers state have successfully suppressed a violent attack by a gang in a local community and eliminated a suspected cult leader referred to as the "general".
The Rivers State Police Command has effectively apprehended Silas Oderereke, a suspected armed robber and cult leader, in Ahoada West Local Government Area.
Oderereke, along with his accomplices, has been engaged in criminal activities within the local communities.
On Sunday, January 14th, the statement was affirmed by Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police who serves as the spokesperson for the command.
According to the information obtained by the news source, it was revealed that Oderereke, who is also referred to as 'General,' has been evading capture for the last four years.
His era of fear, however, concluded when he declined to surrender and started shooting at the authorities, leading to his demise.
It was discovered that Oderereke, as the leader of the Greenlanders' cult group in the Ubie clan of Ahoada West, was notorious for participating in various unlawful actions such as armed robbery, seizing land illegally, unauthorized sale of properties, and engaging in violent assaults against those who resisted them.
The cult leader was reported by the PPRO to be commanding the demolition of residences in communities that opposed his illegal activities.
"On the 11th of January, 2024, the authorities were informed of the criminal activity of Oderereke's gang, which included not only committing robberies but also deliberately damaging the assets belonging to the deceased monarch, Eze Robinson O. Robinson."
"The police acted promptly and pursued the criminals out of the city. Nevertheless, the rebellious 'General' regrouped his gang and initiated an assault on a tank farm owned by the community in Oderereke, with the intention of stealing its contents."
"The gang was captured by the police during the act of sabotage, as revealed by the PPRO."
She further mentioned that there was an exchange of gunfire between the police team and Silas Oderereke along with another member of his gang.
"In the gun battle, Oderereke and his partner were eliminated while the rest suffered injuries.
Additionally, Danger-boy and 2-Man, two clan leaders who often worked together with Oderereke, were able to flee and are currently evading capture."
After conducting a search of the gang's hideout, law enforcement stumbled upon a G3 rifle along with 19 rounds of ammunition measuring 7.62x51mm. Additional inquiries revealed a camp set up by Oderereke between the Oderereke and Olokuma Communities."
"This encampment functioned as the headquarters for the charismatic leader and his substantial group of devotees, from which they initiated acts of theft against unsuspecting individuals within neighboring societies."
The affected communities were said to have shown happiness and a sense of relief when they heard about the neutralization of Oderereke, as they discussed the stories of residents who had moved to Port Harcourt because of the chaos caused by the cult group.
The Police Commissioner, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the officers of the command for their outstanding performance.
He firmly cautioned cult members in the state to cease their criminal actions and disassociate from cultism, or else they will be subjected to severe legal repercussions. Under his leadership, CP Disu provided assurance to the residents of the state that the police command is dedicated to preserving peace and enhancing security.
0 Comments