Police kill notorious cultist, robber during raid on criminal hideout in Rivers

According to her, the suspect, who was identified as Silas Oderereke, aka General, had successfully evaded arrest for about four years until he met his Waterloo during the raid.

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He was reportedly felled in a crossfire when the police operatives invaded the criminal hideout and were engaged in a gun duel by the criminals.

Grace Iringe-Koko added that two other suspected criminals sustained injuries, while two others escaped.

“In a major breakthrough, the Rivers State Police Command successfully apprehended a notorious armed robber and cult leader, Silas Oderereke, in Oderereke, Ahoada-West Local Government Area,” the statement read.

“Oderereke, also known as ‘General,’ had been on the run for the past four years, evading arrest. However, his reign of terror came to an end when he resisted arrest and opened fire on the police, resulting in his death.

“As the head of the Greenlanders’ cult group in the Ubie clan of Ahoada West, Oderereke and his gang were infamous for their criminal activities, which included armed robbery, land grabbing, unauthorized sales of buildings, and brutal attacks on those who dared to oppose them.”

The hoodlums reportedly terrorised residents of the area, grabbing lands, vandalising property, as well as robbing and kidnapping people.

“The cult leader would even order the destruction of houses in communities that resisted his criminal enterprises,”  Iringe-Koko further said.

“On January 11, 2024, the police received information about Oderereke’s 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.

“However, the defiant ‘General’ rallied his gang and launched an attack on a community-owned tank farm in Oderereke, intending to loot its contents. It was during this sabotage attempt that the police managed to apprehend the gang.

“Silas Oderereke and one other member of his gang opened fire on the police team, leading to an exchange of gunfire. In the shootout, Oderereke and his accomplice were neutralised while others sustained injuries.

“Two other clan leaders, Danger-boy and 2-Man, who frequently collaborated with Oderereke, managed to escape and are currently at large.”

The police spokesperson added that a G3 rifle, nineteen 7.62x51mm ammunition and other weapons and military camouflage were recovered.