One person was killed and eight others injured in the early hours of Monday after a shooting during a masquerade procession in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, police have confirmed.
The Rivers State Police Command said the incident occurred along Sambo Street at about 1:30 am, though it was reported at the Omoku Police Division around 7:00 am.
According to the police, trouble began during a masquerade outing by youths in the area when a confrontation broke out between the group and a man identified as Barrister Akpudi Ikechukwu, who was accompanied by four personnel of the Nigeria Forest Guards Security Service.
During the altercation, gunshots were fired, leaving nine members of the masquerade group with gunshot wounds.
One of the victims, identified simply as Obulo, was later confirmed dead at Omoku Hospital, while the remaining eight victims are currently receiving treatment at the same facility.
READ ALSO: Troops Arrest Suspected Gun-running Kingpin in Anambra Raid
Police revealed Ikechukwu and two other suspects were arrested in connection with the incident and have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Preliminary investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine the degree of culpability of all parties involved, the police added.
Meanwhile, the Area Commander has met with aggrieved youths in the community in an effort to calm tensions and avert a breakdown of law and order.
A joint security patrol involving police and military personnel has also been deployed in the area to safeguard lives and property.
The Rivers State Police Command stressed that all those found responsible for the violence would be brought to justice.
0 Comments