The Police in Rivers have arrested the commander of a local vigilante group identified as Felix Nwaobakata with two human skulls and other parts at his hideout in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.
Also arrested were seven other members of the local security outfit for sundry crimes, including murder.
The clampdown followed outcry by the public over their excesses, spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Wednesday, said.
Iringe-Koko said Nwaobakata, who is the Commander of the ONELGA Security and Peace Advisory Committee codenamed OSPAC was a principal suspect in the murder of two brothers in Idu in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA of the state on May 1, 2024, on the allegations that they were kidnappers.
Iringe-Koko further mentioned that a leader of Hausa Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, had reported case of abduction of a member of his community to the police and that the group had refused to honour police invitation.
The PPRO noted that the OSPAC leader and members instead of honouring invitation had attacked the police station, adding that attack was foiled the police.
She said, “The Rivers State Police Command has commenced a clampdown on the excesses of Vigilante Groups operating within the State.
“This follows numerous complaints about the operations of the ONELGA Security and Peace Advisory Committee (OSPAC) in different parts of the State, predominantly in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA (ONELGA), as well as clashes with other Security Agencies by this Vigilante Group.
“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. He 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, the OSPAC outfit coordinated an attack on the Police Division in Omoku but the attack was thwarted as the Police repelled them.
“Following this development, Tactical Units of the Command stormed the ONELGA OSPAC Camp at Omoku and arrested Cheta Benjamin, Joshua Ekwosa, Innocent Ahiakwu, and four others.
“The ONELGA OSPAC Commander, Felix Nwaobakata, was subsequently arrested in his hideout in Omoku on June 17th, 2024, 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. The bodies of the brothers were not seen, and the investigation is ongoing.”
Iringe-Koko said the vigilante members in Egbeda Community, Emohua LGA, had in a different stance killed a youth in area without provocation, noting that the OSPAC ambushed their target and gunned him down after a protest in the area.
“In another related incident, on May 31st, 2024, the 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,” she disclosed.
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