The Rivers State Police Command says the killing of a former student leader, Endwell Ejindu, was not connected to the ongoing clashes by political factions in the state.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, made this known in an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

It was gathered that the former Student Union President of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt was killed along Ula-Upata Road, Ahoada East.

Initial reports linked the killing to clashes between rival political factions struggling for control of the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

An eyewitness, who identified himself as Samson, told newsmen that Ejindu was murdered by a group supporting a prominent politician in Ahoada.

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He said the incident occurred shortly after the victim left the Ahoada-East Local Government Secretariat where he joined other youths to protest the tenure extension of the outgoing chairman.

Samson said: “Ejindu boarded a motorcycle at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday and was later ambushed by three gunmen along Ula-Upata Road.

“The gunmen opened fire on him and he was killed instantly while the motorcyclist sustained gunshot wounds.”

However, Iringe-Koko disclosed that Ejindu was killed by cultists.

The police spokesperson said: “Ejindu was attacked and killed in the late hours of Tuesday by gunmen suspected to be cultists.

“The murder of the victim is unrelated to the current political crises in Rivers State.”

The Star