Gunmen suspected to be members of the Iceland cult group have killed Chief Ferdinand Dabiri, the Vice Chairman of the Obelle Council of Chiefs in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, July 19, 2025, during a meeting of community chiefs at Omuwoka village in Obelle.
Eyewitnesses said the suspected cultists, led by a notorious figure identified as ‘Cairo,’ stormed the venue on a motorcycle. Cairo reportedly alighted from the bike, walked straight to Chief Dabiri, shot him twice at close range, and fled the scene after confirming he was dead.
The shooting caused panic as other chiefs at the meeting ran for safety. Sources say some residents have fled the community following the attack.
Joseph Eze Dabiri, the second son of the deceased, confirmed the killing in an interview with our correspondent.
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“I heard that a guy came with a gun while my father was in a meeting at Omuwoka village in Obelle, shot at him twice and fled on Saturday evening,” he said.
He added that the incident has been reported to the Rumuji Police Division and called on security agencies to ensure justice is served.
As of the time of filing this report, the Rivers State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
It will be recalled that on November 15, 2024, one Miss Loveth Amadi led a protest to the Rumuji Police Division, accusing the same Cairo of killing her father, Akpata Amadi a member of the local vigilante group on November 4, 2024.
Obelle community has recorded several cult-related killings in the past year, raising concerns over security and the continued presence of cult gangs in the area.
