Rivers police arrest notorious cult leader who stabbed man to death after the victim withdrew his annual savings from thrift collector

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a suspected leader of a cult group, Iceland, Barikui Amanyie, for the murder of one Lioneda Lebari.

Barikui, 35, an indigene of Kaani community in Khana local government area of Rivers State, had been on the Police watchlist for allegedly terrorising residents of Eleme local government area of the state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, January 4, 2024, said the arrest of Barikui, also known as ‘Lawyer’, was sequel to the directive by the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, to all tactical units of the command to intensify efforts to arrest all criminals on the command’s watchlist.

“The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a notorious Iceland cult leader, terrorising Eleme Area, a 35-year-old Barikui Amanyie, aka ‘Lawyer’ in Eleme,” the statement read.

“The arrest was in response to a directive given by the Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, to tactical units and Divisions to intensify efforts to apprehend all wanted criminals on the watch list of the Rivers State Police command.

“Barikui, who hails from Kaanii in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, has been on the watchlist list of the Police since December 31, 2021, when he and five other members of his gang murdered one Mr. Lioneda Lebari. 

“On the fateful day, the deceased was tracked by the gang after withdrawing his annual savings of NGN150,000 from a local thrift collector.

“He was tracked to the Oil-Mill junction, where he was attacked by Barikui and his gang and stabbed multiple times. He was left to die of his wounds while they fled the scene of the crime

“The suspect, before his arrest, had been in hiding, switching hideouts regularly to evade arrest.

“However, on Friday, December 20, the Anti Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police responded to a tip-off and apprehended the suspect in his hideout at Eleme.

“Among the items recovered from the suspect were locally made pistols and items suspected to be charms.

“The suspect has confessed to the crime and has been charged on a two-count charge of murder and cultism. Investigations are still on as the Police get closer to apprehending other members of the murderous gang.

“The Commissioner of Police expressed his satisfaction with the promptness of the men of the Rivers State Police Command in dealing with suspects on the Police watchlist.

“He further charged them not to relent in the campaign against crime as the command had begun gaining ground on crime and criminality in the state.”