Okafor Ofiebor/ Port Harcourt

The Nigerian oil city of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has continued to be gripped in violence as no fewer than eight persons were killed and many injured on Friday night.

The victims were killed at different locations by unidentified gunmen suspected to be cultists.

Five persons were shot dead and scores wounded at the popular bar before Amadi-Ama roundabout, on Friday night in the state capital.

Witnesses said the incident occurred at about 11:30 pm. Among those killed was a lady and a military personnel.

Sources who are residents in the area, said they were awakened by heavy shooting at the drinking spot, which operates till dawn daily.

The sources said that three corpses, which were not identified that night were kept outside the bar till morning, and expended bullets littered the vicinity of the drinking bar.

Earlier that night, three persons were killed and another seriously wounded at Prime Rose Estate, Okrika Waterfront, also in the city at about 9 p.m.

The three victims were simply identified as Ibiyene (a woman, selling local gin, kaikai), Ekaki and Maxwell. The one wounded was Tekena.

The PR officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Ahmad Muhammad, said the gunmen were suspected cultists.