Obelle community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State has been thrown into mourning after unknown gunmen shot and killed a prominent traditional leader during a village meeting.
Chief Eze Dabiri, the Vice Chairman of the Obelle Council of Chiefs, was gunned down on Saturday at Omuwoka village while attending a meeting with fellow chiefs.
His son, Joseph Eze Dabiri, confirmed the killing on Sunday. “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,” he said. Joseph added that the case had been reported to the Rumuji Police Division and urged the authorities to ensure justice is done.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers were suspected members of the Iceland cult group, allegedly led by a notorious figure known as Cairo. They reportedly arrived at the venue on motorcycles, creating panic.
Cairo was said to have gotten off one of the bikes, walked straight to Chief Dabiri, and shot him twice at close range. Witnesses said the gunman checked to make sure the chief was dead before fleeing.
The attack caused chaos at the meeting, as other chiefs and community members ran for safety. By nightfall, fear gripped the area, with reports that some residents had started fleeing to avoid further violence.
Security forces from a military outpost in nearby Ibaa community have since increased patrols, but the Rivers State Police Command has yet to release an official statement on the incident.
The killing has sparked fresh concerns over the rising wave of cult-related violence in Obelle. It comes just months after a similar case involving the same suspect. In November 2024, a woman named Loveth Amadi accused Cairo of killing her father, Akpata Amadi, a member of the local vigilante group.
Residents say cult activities in Obelle have worsened over the past year, with repeated killings and little progress from security agencies. Many are now calling for urgent government intervention to restore peace in the troubled area.