Photo: Spokesperson, Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Rivers State Police Command has successfully thwarted a planned violent clash between rival cult groups—the Klu Klux Klans (KKK) and the Vikings—near a university campus in Port Harcourt, averting what could have been a major outbreak of cult-related violence.
The attempted cult war erupted on the evening of Thursday, July 17, 2025, along Azikiwe/Opobo Lane Street in the Mile 2 Diobu area, a location close to several tertiary institutions. According to eyewitness reports, suspected members of both cult groups engaged in a gunfight, forcing pedestrians, commuters, and business owners in the area to flee for safety. Several shops were hastily closed, and the usually busy street was quickly deserted.
Officers from the Azikiwe Police Division, supported by operatives of the Octopus Strike Force, responded swiftly to the emergency call. Their prompt intervention brought the volatile situation under control, and three suspected student cultists were apprehended at the scene. One of the suspects is reportedly a final-year student at an unnamed university in Rivers State.
During a subsequent search, police recovered an English-made revolver pistol, one live round of ammunition, and three spent cartridges found in the suspects’ possession. Authorities believe the suspects were part of a coordinated plan to initiate a turf war, which was effectively disrupted by the timely police action.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, stated: “Yes, I can confirm the incident. Three suspects were arrested. One English-made revolver pistol, one live ammunition, and three expended ammunition were recovered from the suspects’ bag. Investigation is ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the cult groups.”
This incident is the latest in a series of cult-related confrontations reported in Rivers State in recent months. The state police command has reiterated its commitment to intensifying crackdowns on cultism and related violent crimes across the state, particularly around institutions of higher learning.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies, as investigations continue.
