Nigerian police beef up security in oil rich state after massacre

LAGOS, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police has deployed more anti-cultism, anti-kidnapping and anti-terror police personnel to Omoku area of oil rich Rivers State to fish out those who killed 16 worshipers on New Year Day.

Police chief in charge of the state Zaki Ahmed told reporters in Port Harcourt on Thursday that police presence in Omoku has been heavily increased so as to go after the suspects and provide more security in area.

Some 16 persons returning from a crossover church service were gunned down in the early hours of Monday in Omoku while 12 others were injured.

Ahmed said the police will bring the suspects to justice, noting that the suspects had come in through the creeks in a speed boat and attacked the worshipers.

The security chief, who said the Marine Police were now patrolling the creeks, appealed to residents to furnish the police with meaningful information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects.

He also advised multi-national companies doing business in the community to go about their businesses without any fear of molestation.

Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni council area, recently started to enjoy relative peace after several months of cult-related violence. Enditem