By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Police Command has commenced a clampdown on t Vigilante Groups operating within the State.
This follows numerous complaints from locals about the operations of the ONELGA Security and Peace Advisory Committee (OSPAC) in different parts of the State, especially in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), as well as clashes with sister security agencies by the groups.
A statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko said on May 9th, 2024, Alhaji Usman Seleh, the Chairman of the Hausa Indigenous Group in ONELGA, reported that OSPAC had abducted a member of his group and proceeded to report the matter to the Police. Consequently, the Police invited the ONELGA OSPAC Commander, Felix Nwaobakata, who refused to honour several invitations. Instead, she said the OSPAC outfit coordinated an attack on the Police Division in Omoku but was repelled by the Police.
Following the development, she said, “Tactical Units of the Command stormed the ONELGA OSPAC Camp at Omoku and arrested Cheta Benjamin, Joshua Ekwosa, Innocent Ahiakwu, and four others.”
Iringe-Koko said the ONELGA OSPAC Commander, Felix Nwaobakata, was subsequently arrested in his hideout in Omoku on June 17th, 2023, where two human skulls and human bones were found in his possession.
“The arrested OSPAC Commander, Felix Nwaobakata, is also a principal suspect in the murder of two brothers, Collins Ugorji (32) and Newman Ugorji (39), of the Idu Community in ONELGA. The brothers were killed on May 1st, 2024, by the OSPAC on the allegation that they were kidnappers. Their motorcycles were confiscated, and their bodies were taken to the OSPAC Secretariat in Omoku and received by Felix Nwaobakata after residents lamented their criminal actions,” she alleged.
In another related incident, the Police said on May 31st, 2024, youths of Egbeda Community in Emuoha LGA staged a peaceful protest to Lubrik Construction Company (LCC) at Egbeda, and after being addressed by the Police, they dispersed but were ambushed by a group of OSPAC members led by the Egbeda OSPAC Commander, Friday Ogbuji, who shot and killed the Youth Leader, Innocent Didia.
The statement said the Command has made further arrests and will continue to investigate the cases and other related ones before they are charged to a court.
The statement advised residents who has complaints of assault, extortion, or illegal detention against the vigilante groups to make a report at the nearest police station.
Iringe-Koko said the Command is committed to carrying out its duty of protecting lives and property but will not tolerate any act of illegality, excessive use of force, torture, fraudulent confiscation of properties, and other varying forms of criminality by the OSPAC or any other vigilante outfit.
