Rivers State Police command hinted that Marine policemen would be deployed to man the waterways around Ikuru and other riverine communities in the Andoni Council Area of the state.

It was learnt from a resident of Asarama Community that the attack on Secondus and Ikuru’s houses was triggered by an offensive by security agents at the weekend that led to the murder of a wanted kidnapper, Ekeni-Ore-Owaji, otherwise called ‘Small witch.’

The source explained that security operatives had stormed Asarama on Friday and raided the hideouts of Ekeni-Ore-Owaji’s gang members and torched the homes of their parents.

He also revealed that the joint security operatives also destroyed illegal oil bunkering sites operated by the cultists, adding that the sudden invasion of the community by security operatives forced most of the cultists to flee into the creeks.

Items recovered from Small Witch after he was shot are, five magazines, one AK47 containing about 120 live ammunition and a local gun.

The source added that the gang later regrouped and unleashed reprisals on some communities Ikuru, saying, “On Sunday night, they invaded Ikuru town and destroyed Secondus, Ikuru and his father’s house.

“The cultists attacked their houses because they believed Secondus and Ikuru are the godfathers of the Chairman of Andoni Council, Paul Lawrence Paul.

It was also learnt that the cultists also attacked Ajaka Community, the home town of Paul, whom they accused of instigating the raid by security agents. They also attacked and burnt down the palace of the monarch of Ajaka Community.

Spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the killing of Small Witch, said Marine Police would be deployed to the Andoni waterways to ensure safety of lives and property in the area.

The police had blamed the slain kidnapper for last year’s kidnap of two Policemen, ASP Godwin Anwuri and Sergeant Gift Ojimini alongside their boat driver, Festus Friday who were abducted at Ngo waterside and held captive for three months.

He was also accused of the recent killing of a Police Inspector attached to the anti-cultism unit of the state Police Command.