PORT HARCOURT, Rivers State – July 20, 2025 – Unidentified gunmen have tragically shot dead the Vice Chairman of Obelle Council of Chiefs, Chief Dabiri, in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. The heinous act occurred on Saturday during a meeting of local chiefs in Omuwoka village, casting a pall of fear and grief over the community.
Joseph Eze Dabiri, the second son of the slain chief, 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,” Joseph recounted. He stated that the matter has been reported to the Rumuji Police Division, and he appealed to authorities for justice.
Eyewitnesses reported that the tranquility of the gathering was abruptly shattered when suspected members of the notorious Iceland cult group, allegedly led by a figure identified as Cairo, stormed the venue on motorbikes. Cairo reportedly dismounted from a bike, walked directly to Chief Dabiri, pulled out a firearm, and shot him twice at close range before confirming his victim was dead and fleeing the scene. The sudden and brutal violence plunged the meeting into pandemonium, with other chiefs scrambling for safety.
By nightfall, reports indicated that some residents had begun to flee the community, fearing further attacks. As of the time of this report, the Rivers State Police Command has not issued an official statement on the incident. However, personnel from a military outpost in Ibaa, a neighboring community, have reportedly intensified their patrols in response to the escalating tensions.
This latest killing has significantly deepened concerns over the resurgence of cult-related violence in Obelle. The community has witnessed a disturbing rise in such incidents over the past year. It may be recalled that on November 15, 2024, Miss Loveth Amadi led a protest to the same Rumuji Police Division, accusing the same Cairo of being responsible for the murder of her father, Akpata Amadi, a local vigilante group member, which occurred on November 4, 2024.
Residents are now urgently calling for swift and decisive security intervention to prevent further bloodshed and restore lasting peace in the troubled community.
