Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have eliminated a notorious cultist and kidnapper who had been terrorizing communities in Khana Local Government Area.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, announced the development in a statement on Sunday, November 17, 2024. She revealed that the suspect, Gbarani Bume, also known as Pelele, was killed in a gunfight with police operatives after he and his gang attempted to abduct a site engineer.
“The Rivers State Police Command has achieved a significant milestone in the fight against crime by neutralizing a notorious cultist and kidnapper, Gbarani Bume, a.k.a. Pelele, a native of Bere Community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State,” the statement read.
Bume was identified as a member of the Iceland Cult Group, a gang responsible for criminal activities in the Beree/Tabaa axis of Khana.
According to the statement, the incident occurred on November 15, 2024, when operatives from the Bori Division, acting on a tip-off, were deployed to Luawii Community. There, Pelele and his gang were in the process of attempting to kidnap a site engineer.
“The suspects, upon sighting the operatives, opened fire, leading to a fierce gun battle. During the exchange, Pelele sustained fatal injuries, while his accomplices managed to flee with various degrees of gunshot wounds,” the statement continued.
Police recovered an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and ten rounds of live ammunition from the scene.
SP Iringe-Koko added that an investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to track down the fleeing gang members and ensure they face justice.
“This operation underscores the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety of residents in Rivers State,” she concluded.
