The Youth President of Rumuolumeni in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Felix Chinda, has dismissed claims of an ongoing cult war in the community.
This comes following a statement by the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, who said preliminary investigations into the death of Julius Okpor, a 300-level student of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), suggested it was linked to rival cult clashes in the area.
Reacting to the development, Felix Chinda, in an interview with our correspondent, clarified that the incident was confined to cult-related student activities within the university campus and not in the larger Rumuolumeni community.
He acknowledged that although the university is situated within the community, there have been no cult-related disturbances in the area.
“Even before the killing there is no cult war or cult related activities in Rumuolumeni, the community is peaceful and everyone is going about their lawful businesses on a daily basis even after the killing.
“Investigation reveals that it is purely cult related activity inside Ajuru University, it is a student thing it does not in anyway concern or affect Rumuolumeni even though it happened within the community.”
He noted that the community leadership, in collaboration with the local vigilante group, is actively supporting security agencies to maintain the prevailing peace and security.
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“The OSPAC which is the community vigilante group has been very active in the community in terms of these situations. The OSPAC is not been funded by any group, so they find it difficult in carrying out their logistics including operational vehicles.
“These are their challenges which the community have had security meeting with them to see how to tackle the challenges. Otherwise OSPAC has been one good thing that have happened in Rumuolumeni community, they are prompt in attending to issues.
“We had a security meeting with the Nigerian Navy and the Police even before the unfortunate incident involving the IAUE student. The community has remained peaceful, and residents are going about their normal activities,” Chinda said.
He however noted that the community leadership and the police are working in synergy to address the issue as Police are currently investigating the matter so the culprits would be arrested.
He emphasized that the leadership of Rumuolumeni remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that peace is sustained in the area.
