A quiet night turned tragic in Rumuodogo 2 Community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, after suspected gunmen invaded the area in the early hours of Monday, leaving two residents dead in what authorities believe may have been a reprisal attack.
According to community sources, the armed men stormed the community following allegations that some residents were involved in the killing of several people whose bodies were discovered floating in a nearby river last week.
One survivor, Monica Stephen, described the terrifying incident, saying the attackers forced their way into her home at about 1 a.m. before dragging her and her husband outside.
She alleged that the gunmen repeatedly beat her husband before opening fire on him. Monica said she also feared for her life but was spared after one of the assailants reportedly pleaded with the others not to kill her because she was a woman.
The attackers allegedly insisted that the community was responsible for the deaths of the victims whose bodies were recovered from the river days earlier.
Residents said the gunmen were believed to have come from a neighboring community located in a different local government area bordering Emohua, although the claim has not been independently verified.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Blessing Kaborlo Agabe, said two people were killed during the attack.
She disclosed that police have launched an investigation to determine the motive behind the killings and track down those responsible.
The latest violence has heightened fears among residents, who are calling for increased security presence to prevent further attacks and restore calm to the community.
