Police hunt for killers of vegetable seller in Port Harcourt

The Rivers state police command says efforts are being made to arrest the rampaging cultists behind the killing of a vegetable seller in Port Harcourt.

The victim, Leonard Chika, was gunned down in the presence of his girlfriend by suspect cultists at Bishop Okoye Street, Mile 3, Diobu on Friday.

The killing caused panic in the area as people scampered for safety.

Nnamdi Omoni, the public relations officer of the command said the command has launched an investigation into the murder.

It was gathered that the crisis began about 5 weeks ago over the collection of levies known as matching ground rites from traders between Iceland and Deygbam cult groups.

Sources claim that four other persons have been killed in the crisis.

Omoni said: “Unknown gunmen killed him. We were able to identify him and then he was taken to the mortuary. An investigation has commenced and all hands are on deck to arrest the killers.

Preliminary investigations suggest it was a cult clash but we cannot lend credence to that until our investigation is concluded.”