It was a bloody day for the people of Ula Upata and Ahoada East Local Government Areas of Rivers State as gunmen killed at least eight people.

Reports revealed that the gunmen, numbering five, stormed Ula Upata community in the early hours of Wednesday leaving trails of blood.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, DSP Ahmad Mohammad, confirmed to Channels Television that eight persons were killed in what the Police described as the handiwork of cultists.

DSP Mohammad said that it was the quick intervention of the force which stalled further bloodletting, confirming that one of the suspected gunmen had been arrested and was found to be in possession of an English pump action gun.

However, some eyewitnesses claimed that at least 16 persons were killed in the deadly attack.

An eyewitness who spoke anonymously said that the assailants moved from house to house killing ten persons in the Ula Upata community before moving to Ahoada where at least six more were killed.

The Police spokesman said investigations were going on to bring the culprits to book.

For now, the command said that more men have been deployed to restore peace and order in the affected communities. (Channels TV)