Notorious Cult Leader Storms Council Gathering, Guns Down Rivers Chief in Cold Blood
A horrifying act of violence disrupted a traditional council meeting on Saturday, July 19, when suspected cultists stormed Omuwoka village in Obelle, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, and assassinated Chief Ferdinand Dabiri, the Vice Chairman of the Obelle Council of Chiefs. The attack, which eyewitnesses described as brazen and coordinated, has triggered widespread fear and renewed concerns over the growing wave of cult-related killings in the region.
Chief Dabiri, a respected community elder and known peacemaker in the oil-rich local government area, was shot at close range by a gunman identified by multiple sources as a notorious cult leader who has long terrorized the area. According to firsthand accounts, the assailant arrived at the meeting on a motorcycle, flanked by at least two other gang members. The killer reportedly walked directly up to the chief without any warning, pulled out a firearm, and fired two fatal shots before fleeing the scene with his accomplices.
The traditional gathering was underway with other high-ranking chiefs in attendance when the attack occurred around mid-morning. Witnesses recounted that the gunshots caused instant chaos as elders and community members scrambled for cover.
“The man came with two others. He didn’t say a word. He just pulled out the gun and shot the chief twice. Then he looked at him closely, nodded, and left,” said one eyewitness, a village youth who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.
Another witness, a local woman who sells food near the meeting venue, said she saw the cultists speed off on motorcycles moments after the shots rang out. “We all ran,” she said. “Everyone scattered. People are still in shock. Nobody feels safe anymore.”
The assassination of Chief Dabiri has plunged the quiet community into mourning. His family, stunned by the killing, has demanded justice.
“I heard that a guy came with a gun while my father was in a meeting at Omuwoka village in Obelle, shot at him twice and fled,” said Joseph Eze Dabiri, the chief’s second son, during a phone interview with Channels Television. “We’ve reported the matter to the Rumuji Police Division. We just want justice.”
The killing is the latest in a series of deadly cult-linked incidents that have plagued Obelle and neighboring communities in Emohua over the past year. Residents say a known cult leader—whose name is being withheld by this publication pending official confirmation—has been responsible for several high-profile murders, including the November 2024 killing of Akpata Amadi, a local vigilante group member and father of youth activist Miss Loveth Amadi.
Miss Amadi, in a protest staged on November 15, 2024, at the same Rumuji Police Division, accused the cultist of orchestrating her father’s assassination. Her pleas for justice had largely gone unanswered, despite mounting evidence and community agitation. Saturday’s incident is now being seen by many as a tragic continuation of unchecked violence in the area.
“This is not the first time this boy has struck,” said a youth leader in the community who spoke to this reporter. “He has been killing people and nothing has been done. Now he has killed a chief. If the government does not act now, more people will die.”
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By nightfall on Saturday, reports had emerged that several families had begun fleeing Obelle in anticipation of reprisal attacks or further cultist violence. A pall of fear has settled over the village, with security agencies yet to make any arrests or announce specific measures to stabilize the area.
The Emohua Local Government Area has, in recent years, become a flashpoint for gang-related violence. Cult groups, operating like militias, often clash over territorial control, illegal oil bunkering proceeds, and local political influence. Security agencies have been accused of delayed response, while community leaders lament the lack of protective presence from the Rivers State Government.
“This murder of Chief Dabiri is not just a personal loss; it’s a threat to our very existence,” said one member of the Obelle Council of Chiefs who narrowly escaped the attack. “It means no one is safe anymore—not even those who lead our communities.”
Civil society groups and youth organizations have begun calling on the Rivers State Government, as well as federal security agencies, to immediately deploy a special task force to Obelle and neighboring communities to root out cult gangs and restore public order.
“The senseless murder of a traditional chief in broad daylight speaks volumes about the failure of law enforcement in Emohua,” said Barrister Godspower Dappa, a human rights lawyer and coordinator of the Niger Delta Peace Alliance. “We demand an urgent and holistic security operation. These cultists must not be allowed to operate like warlords. Their reign of terror must end.”
The Rivers State Police Command has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident, but a senior police officer at the Rumuji Division confirmed that an investigation is underway.
“We are aware of the incident,” the officer said. “Our men have been deployed for intelligence gathering, and we are following up on leads. No suspects have been arrested yet, but we will not rest until those behind this barbaric act are brought to book.”
Observers fear that Saturday’s killing marks an escalation in the targeting of traditional rulers and community leaders in the Niger Delta—a trend that could have far-reaching consequences on local governance and grassroots peace efforts.
In May 2025, another chief in the Ahoada West LGA was kidnapped by armed men believed to be part of a rival cult faction. He was later found murdered. Traditional rulers, who once commanded widespread respect and served as community dispute mediators, are increasingly being hunted—either for their refusal to cooperate with criminal gangs or for being perceived as threats to their control.
“It is a calculated assault on the institution of traditional leadership,” said Dr. Emmanuel Nwafor, a sociologist and regional security expert. “The killers know that when they silence the chiefs, they silence resistance.”
For now, Obelle remains on edge. The local council, now operating under tension, has suspended public meetings. Residents are wary of gatherings. Schools in the area have seen low attendance since the news broke. Markets are quiet. Shops are closing early.
Community leaders are appealing for calm but admit they are powerless without state intervention.
“We are broken,” said a community elder. “But we will not give up. Chief Dabiri’s death will not be in vain.”