Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have neutralised Silas Oderereke, a wanted armed robber and leader of the Greenlanders cult in Ahoada West Local Council.
They also gunned down a member of his gang.
Spokesperson for the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said Oderereke, also known as ‘General,’ had been on the run for the past four years.
She said: “On January 11, the police received information about his gang’s robbery operation, which also involved vandalising the property of the late monarch, Eze Robinson O. Robinson. Responding swiftly, the police chased the criminals out of town.
“The suspect’s reign of terror came to an end when he resisted arrest and opened fire on the police, resulting in his death. One other member of his gang also opened fire on the police team, leading to an exchange of gunfire.”
Iringe-Koko said two other cult leaders, Danger-boy and 2-Man, who frequently collaborated with Oderereke, managed to escape.
According to her, as head of the Greenlanders cult in the Ubie clan of Ahoada West, Oderereke and his gang were infamous for their criminal activities, which included armed robbery, land grabbing, unauthorised sale of buildings, and brutal attacks on those who dared to oppose them.
She noted that the cult leader had even ordered the destruction of houses in communities that resisted his criminal enterprises.
Iringe-Koko explained that upon searching the gang’s hideout, the police discovered a G3 rifle and 19 7.62x51mm ammunition.
She said further investigations uncovered a camp Oderereke had established
“This camp served as a base for the cult leader and his numerous followers, from where they launched robbery attacks on innocent members of neighbouring communities.
“The affected communities expressed their relief and shared accounts of residents who had relocated to Port Harcourt due to the mayhem caused by the group,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, congratulated the officers. He warned cultists to abandon their criminal activities or face the full weight of the law.
The CP also assured residents of Rivers State that the command remains committed to maintaining peace and bolstering security.
