The Nigerian Armed Forces have launched a major joint operation in the Diobu suburb of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in response to a surge in cult-related violence and insecurity that has plagued the area for weeks.
The late-night operation on Sunday involved combined forces from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Police.
Eyewitnesses confirmed the deployment of over 20 military vehicles, including trucks and pick-ups, as troops stormed Elechi Beach and other notorious flashpoints within the city.
Security personnel began demolishing shanties and makeshift shelters believed to be hideouts used by gang members to stage attacks on residents.
Sources close to the operation say the military crackdown follows escalating violence between two rival cult groups, identified as June 12 and Debam.
These groups were engaged in a deadly turf war over control of transport ticketing and levy collection at Mile 1 bus stops and surrounding markets. In one reported incident, gunmen targeted a Debam leader in charge of ticketing at the Education Bus Stop.
Although the victim was shot, he survived the assassination attempt, which was believed to be a bid to unseat him and seize control of the area.
Sources confirm that at least 12 people—mainly suspected cultists—have been killed in recent weeks. Several others, including innocent bystanders, have been injured by stray bullets during gun battles between rival groups.
In addition to the fatalities, passersby, commuters, and shop owners in areas such as Education Bus Stop, Sangana Market, and Abali Park have fallen victim to indiscriminate robberies and assaults carried out by machete- and gun-wielding youths aged between 15 and 20.
In the past three weeks alone, at least a dozen people have been killed in various attacks linked to these cult clashes. Victims include a street preacher and a married couple, sparking widespread fear among residents in communities such as Njemanze, Abonema Wharf Road, Abba, and Udi.
Locals report that armed gang members—many of them teenagers—have been terrorising neighbourhoods, extorting money, and attacking passersby.
The ongoing operation is part of a broader security effort by federal and state authorities to stabilise the area and dismantle criminal networks operating in Rivers State.
Security forces are expected to maintain a strong presence in Diobu and surrounding areas in the coming days as the crackdown continues.
