The Ula Upata and Ahoada East communities have been thrown into fresh mourning and gloom as gunmen numbering about five according to reports stormed the community in the early hours of the day shedding blood in their wake.
The gunmen were reported to have killed at least eight people.
In a confirmation statement by the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Mohammed confirmed the death of eight persons during the attack and described the casualties as victims of suspected cult activity.
DSP Ahmed further explained that the immediate and prompt response of the Police force was able to stop further shed of blood and loss of lives.
Eyewitnesses however claimed that at least 16 persons were killed during the attack in which an English pump action gun was found in possession of one of the arrested gunmen.
An anonymous eyewitness explained that the gunmen moved from hose to house killing residents of the Ula Upata community before moving to Ahoada leaving in their wake ten dead and further killing six more.
Investigations are ongoing to bring the perpetrators of such evil act to book according to the spokesperson.