The Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt said it shot and killed five men suspected to be cultists during a major operation in some communities in Rivers.
Capt. Eli Lazarus, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, announced this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
He said in the statement that soldiers raided Iba and Obelle communities in Emuoha Local Government Area, following a tip-off about camps used by cultists in the area.
“In continuation of our operation against cultism and criminal gangs in Rivers state, soldiers from 2 Brigade Nigerian Army conducted operations to clear suspected cultist camps.
“The operation was conducted in Iba and Obelle communities in Emuoha local government area following a tip-off on the hideout of cultists in the communities.
“Five suspected cultists were killed while two pump action rifles and 26 phones were recovered.
“Three of the suspected cultist camps were destroyed during the operation”, it said.
It added that the army would continue with its operation against cultists and other criminals to safeguard residents and businesses in the state.
The statement urged the public to provide security agencies with information that would lead to arrest of criminals, assuring that identity of informants would be kept in utmost confidentiality.
The army, a fortnight ago, said it would begin massive raids of cultists and criminal hideouts to stop killings in Rivers State.
