Nigeria, April 23 -- The President General of the Ogbakor-Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, Godspower Onuekwa, has raised alarm over what he described as escalating attacks by suspected bandits in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Mr Onuekwa, in a media briefing on 23 April, said that armed groups have taken over forest areas in the local government, launching repeated attacks and kidnappings in several communities, including Igwuruta, Omademe and Omagwa.

He said the situation has worsened in recent weeks, with residents living in fear due to the activities of the attackers, whom he claimed are heavily armed.

"These bandits are armed with sophisticated weapons and have made life more unbearable for our people," he s...