You’re distorting facts on Cult Crisis that claimed nine lives – Group attacks Police
The South-South Human Rights Observatory (SSHRO) group, has accused the Nigerian Police of attempting to distort facts about an intra-cult clash that claimed nine lives at Rivers State.
The intra-cult clash happened at Abarikpo community in Ahoada-East local government area of Rivers State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Grace Iringe-Koko, had told journalists that one of the deceased leader of a cult group in the community, James Bright, popularly known as ‘Borokiri’ was killed during a gun duel with the police.
But, SSHRO, in a statement made available to Leadership in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said its own findings revealed that the intra-cult clash, which claimed the lives of Borokiri and others, was ignited when he (Borokiri) defected to a faction of the same cult group in the community.
The statement, which was signed by the group’s programme officer, Human Rights, Ella Susan, further revealed that the cult leader defected to the faction of the cult group with an AK-47 rifle and nine magazines belonging to his former faction.
The statement reads in part: “The South South Human Rights Observatory (SSHRO), is shocked by the deliberate attempt of the Nigerian Police to to distort the facts of the Intra Cult carnage that took 9 lives at Abarikpo community in Ahoada East LGA of Rivers state on the night of Wednesday, 14th December, 2022, in a cult rivalry and many others sustaining various degrees of injuries.
“Investigation by our field teams reveal that the clash was ignited when a cultist in the community, James Bright a.k.a. Borokiri, defected to a rival faction within the Icelander cult group. While defecting he took along with him a rifle and nine magazines belonging to his previous cult faction.
“The action of defecting with the rifle angered members of the previous faction,whose leaders is a notorious cultist fondly called 2baba, who immediately mounted an operation to apprehend the defecting member and also to rescue the rifle.
“Our field teams were told by community sources that the defecting member was trailed to a hideout, where a fierce exchange of gun fire took place. In the firefight, nine persons were confirmed dead, while many suffered various types of wounds.
“Some of the dead and wounded, were confirmed to be innocent members of the community who were caught in the deadly crossfire.
“There was no police presence in the community during the incident, so it is a wonder how the police could have claimed to have gunned down three cultists. The DPO of Ahoada Division who is rumoured to be very close to the cultists only arrived after the carnage to retrieve the corpses of the dead,and may have lied to his superiors.
“Our investigators disclosed that the community has been deserted, following fear that the fight may continue to escalate. It was not possible to ascertain the names of the victims, as palpable fear has gripped indigenes of the community, over fear of possible reprisals.
We condemn the violence which is a harbinger of further violence, especially this election season. Ahoada East is fast becoming the epicenter of violence, despite previous efforts to promote peace in the area.”
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Two men docked for allegedly defiling underaged girl
Two men docked for allegedly defiling underaged girl
The police in Lagos on Friday, charged two men before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling an 11- year-old girl.
The defendants are: Prince Tomnyie, 40, a businessman, who resides at Agege, and Micheal Adenuga, 24, a furniture maker, who resides at Atere Street in Lekki.
They are standing trial on charges of defilement, and had each pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, ASP Adegoke Ademigbuji told the court that they committed the offence sometimes in December 2024, and September 2025, at Langbasa Ajah and Igbara Lekki, Lagos .
The prosecutor alleged that the victim’s father, had taken his daughter for medical check and it was discovered that the minor had been defiled.
The prosecution alleged that the victim had told her father that his friend, Tomnyie, defiled her sometimes ago.
Ademigbuji alleged that the victim also mentioned the second defendant’s name who lives in their neigbourhood.
The offence contravenes the provisons of section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr L. A Owolabi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of of N600,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case until March 5, for mention. (NAN)
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Report any officer asking for money for release of suspect as Police insist bail is free
Report any officer asking for money for release of suspect as Police insist bail is free
The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has insisted that bail is free, and called on the public to report any officer asking for money to release a suspect on bail.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Adeh spoke in reaction to public outcry that some police officers were demanding money to release suspects on bail in the territory.
She said the report of the erring officers would serve as a deterrent to others, adding that it was fraudulent to demand for money to release a suspect on bail.
Adeh blamed the yielding to such fraudulent demand on ignorance on the part of the victims who refused to stand on their rights.
“A similar case was reported where an officer demanded money to release a suspect on bail and when the matter was reported, we requested for evidence from the victim.
“The evidence was provided because the money was transferred to the officer’s account and actions are being taken on the issue.
“So, I encourage the public to take advantage of the FCT Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) lines on 08107314192 to report such misconduct with evidence,” she said.
Adeh urged the public to always insist on their rights and refuse any form of payment to release a suspect on bail.(NAN)
News
Former President sentenced to five years in prison by Court
Former President sentenced to five years in prison by Court
South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol was on Friday sentenced to five years in prison for obstruction of justice.
The Seoul Central District Court found that the 65-year-old conservative, with the help of the presidential security service, had tried to prevent his own arrest and deleted multiple documents related to the investigation against him.
Yoon shocked the nation by imposing martial law on December 3, 2024, amid a budget dispute with the opposition, plunging the country into a political crisis.
He justified the drastic measure as necessary to protect South Korea’s democratic order and accused the left-leaning opposition of being infiltrated by communists with ties to China and North Korea, though he provided no evidence for these claims.
In a separate trial, prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Yoon on charges of incitement, with a verdict expected on February 19.
While the death penalty remains legally in force in South Korea, it has not been carried out for nearly 30 years.
Yoon’s actions previously alarmed international investors and led to withheld investments, damaging the reputation of South Korea as a political and economic model for the region.
Since last summer, South Korea has been led by President Lee Jae Myung, a left-leaning centrist and long-time political rival of Yoon. (dpa/NAN)
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