A fatal shooting on Monday, January 19, left one person dead and eight others injured during a night masquerade procession in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the incident.
According to the Police, the incident happened in the early hours of Monday along Sambo Street, Omoku, during a nocturnal masquerade procession organised by youths in the community.
According to information received by the Omoku Police Division, the disturbance occurred at about 1:30 a.m. after a confrontation broke out between the masqueraders and a lawyer, Akpudi Ikechukwu, who, it was gathered, was in the company of four operatives of the Nigeria Forest Guards Security Service.
The clash, it was learned, escalated into gunfire, during which nine members of the masquerade group sustained gunshot wounds.
One of the injured victims, identified simply as Obulo, was later pronounced dead at the Omoku Hospital, while the remaining eight are currently receiving medical attention at the same facility.
In the aftermath of the incident, police arrested Barrister Akpudi Ikechukwu along with two other individuals. The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further inquiry.
The command said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine the responsibility of those involved.
To forestall further unrest, the Area Commander has engaged aggrieved youths in dialogue, while a combined security patrol of police and military personnel has been deployed to the area to maintain peace and safeguard residents.
The police assured that all individuals found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
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