Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have neutralised two leaders of a dreaded cult group, Greenlanders in the Oderereke, Ahoada-West Local Government Area of the State.
The police in the state also uncovered and busted a camp between Oderereke and Olokuma Communities, where the deceased cult members and their gang members operated a high level of kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism.
The leader of the group, Silas Oderereke, popularly known as General and one other member of the gang died during a shootout with policemen, while others escaped.
The image maker in charge of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Irinje – Koko in a statement on Sunday said; “In a major breakthrough, the Rivers State Police Command successfully apprehended a notorious armed robber and cult leader, Silas Oderereke, in Oderereke, Ahoada-West Local Government Area. Oderereke, also known as ‘General,’ had been on the run for the past four years, evading arrest.
The police spokesperson added that *However, his reign of terror came to an end when he resisted arrest and opened fire on the police, resulting in his death.”
“As the head of the Greenlanders’ cult group in the Ubie clan of Ahoada West, Oderereke and his gang were infamous for their criminal activities, which included armed robbery, land grabbing, unauthorized sales of buildings, and brutal attacks on those who dared to oppose them. ”
She also continued that “The cult leader would even order the destruction of houses in communities that resisted his criminal enterprises.”
The River State police image maker also continued that ” On January 11, 2024, the police received information about Oderereke’s gang’s robbery operation, which also involved vandalizing the property of the late monarch, Eze Robinson O. Robinson. Responding swiftly, the police chased the criminals out of town.”
” However, the defiant ‘General’ rallied his gang and launched an attack on a community-owned tank farm in Oderereke, intending to loot its contents. It was during this sabotage attempt that the police managed to apprehend the gang,” SP Iringe-Koko stated.
She continued; “Silas Oderereke and one other member of his gang opened fire on the police team, leading to an exchange of gunfire. In the shootout, Oderereke and his accomplice were neutralised while others sustained injuries.
“Two other clan leaders, Danger-boy and 2-Man, who frequently collaborated with Oderereke, managed to escape and are currently at large.”
The police image maker disclosed that; “Upon searching the gang’s hideout, the police discovered a G3 Rifle and nineteen 7.62x51mm ammunition. Further investigations uncovered a camp Oderereke had established between Oderereke and Olokuma Communities.”
” This camp served as a base for the cult leader and his numerous followers, from where they launched robbery attacks on innocent members of neighboring communities. ”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, congratulated the officers for their exceptional work.
He also issued a stern warning to cultists in the state, urging them to abandon their criminal activities and renounce cultism, or face the full weight of the law and assured the residents of Rivers State that the police command, under his leadership, remains fully committed to maintaining peace and bolstering security in the state.
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