Three policemen and a community chief have lost their lives in Iriebe, Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State.
Also killed by suspected gunmen is the younger brother of the paramount ruler of Iriebe, Clinton Worenwu, Punchng.com reports.
Several men were said to have stormed Iriebe on Wednesday with weapons to start a fight with the Hausa community in the area.
After two assailants were killed by security forces, the hoodlums were said to have returned and killed two policemen and a chief in the process.
Another policeman was shot dead on Thursday, bringing the number of slain officers to three.
“By 7pm, I began to hear gunshots. People called me to say that two policemen were shot dead. I was inside the house with my family, but my younger brother, Clinton, was outside, observing movements with some other persons in front of our father’s compound.
“It was this morning when I wanted to call for a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the way forward that we learnt of his death. He was shot several times at close range. The community is in disarray; residents are moving out in large numbers. The markets are closed and business shut,” paramount ruler of Iriebe community, Jeremiah Worenwu, said.
Rivers police spokesperson, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident, adding that 69 suspects had been arrested in connection with the killings.
He said they had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation.
“We have restored normalcy; people should go about their business and those that fled the community should return,” Mr Omoni said.
