PORT HARCOURT, Rivers State – July 20, 2025 – The Rivers State Police Command has launched a comprehensive investigation into the tragic death of Julius Okpor, a 300-level student of Ignatius Ajuru University, who was allegedly killed in a suspected cult-related attack. The incident occurred on Saturday, July 20, at approximately 11:30 a.m. along Cecilia Road in the Rumuolumeni area of Port Harcourt.
According to a statement released by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, Okpor was reportedly shot by suspected members of a rival cult group. Police officers, responding swiftly to a distress call at the scene, rushed the victim to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), where he was tragically pronounced dead.
SP Iringe-Koko stated that preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation strongly suggest that cult rivalry is the likely motive behind the fatal assault.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, has vehemently condemned the killing and assured residents of the command’s intensified efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the heinous act. “We are determined to bring those responsible to justice and restore peace to the affected community,” CP Adepoju affirmed.
The police have urged residents of Rumuolumeni and the wider Port Harcourt metropolis to remain calm and cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. The Command appealed to the public to provide any credible information that could aid in the swift arrest of the suspects, emphasizing that community collaboration is crucial to bringing the perpetrators to justice and enhancing security.
