Police stop suspected cult attack on Port Harcourt trader

The police in Rivers State have stopped a suspected cult attack aimed at a trader in a market located in the Mile 3 area of Port Harcourt.

Blessing Agabe, the police spokeswoman in Rivers, confirmed this while talking to reporters in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Ms Agabe, who is an assistant superintendent of police, said that suspected cultists tried to invade a market on Bishop Okoye Street. Officers from the Nkpolu Police Division quickly intervened to stop them.

"Upon receiving a distress alert, the police division mobilised officers to the scene and foiled the attack before the assailants could execute their mission," she stated.

She mentioned that security personnel have taken charge of the area and started searching for the suspects who ran away.

Efforts are also ongoing to find out which cult group was involved and to reach the trader who was the target of the attack.

"The victim also fled when officers arrived at the scene," she added.

The police spokeswoman promised residents that there would be a thorough investigation. She assured that those behind the attack would face justice.

Ms Agabe also called on the public to share any credible information that could help the police find the suspects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the incident happened around 7:30 a.m. on Monday.

Witnesses said that at least eight suspected cultists surrounded a trader named Abraham, who runs a grinding business in the market.

One witness, who identified herself as Janet, told NAN that the attackers were armed with machetes and a locally made pistol.

She said the suspects attacked the trader and inflicted multiple machete wounds on him before the police arrived.

"The attackers fled immediately they noticed the arrival of police officers and disappeared into the crowd," she explained.

Janet also suggested that the attack might be connected to the victim’s refusal to pay an illegal fee known as ‘marching ground’, which is said to be imposed by suspected cult groups in the market.

"The victim sustained injuries on different parts of his body but managed to escape from the scene as the police arrived," she concluded.