At his hideout in Omoku, the state’s headquarters of the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Felix Nwaobakata, the chief of a local vigilante group, was found in possession of two human skulls and other parts, according to the Rivers State Police Command.
Additionally, the police reported that seven additional members of the local security organization were detained for various offenses, including murder, by their agents as part of a crackdown on the excesses of vigilante groups operating in the state.
This was revealed in a statement released on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the State Police Command.
According to Iringe-Koko, Nwaobakata, the Commander of the ONELGA Security and Peace Advisory Committee, also known by the codename OSPAC, is a prime suspect in the May 1, 2024, murder of two brothers in Idu, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA of the state, on the grounds that they were abductors.
The statement said that Nwaobakata and other OSPAC members were arrested in response to multiple complaints regarding their activities throughout the state, particularly in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LG. It further stated that the group’s members had recently attacked an Omoku police division and engaged in combat with other security agencies.
“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 in different parts of the State, predominantly in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, as well as clashes with other Security Agencies by this Vigilante Group.
“On May 9, 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 17, 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 statement read.
The OSPAC claimed that the brothers were kidnappers and that they were slain on May 1, 2024. It is stated that their motorcycles were seized, and their remains were sent to the OSPAC secretariat located in Omoku.
“On May 3, 2024, the Youths of Egbeda Community in Emuoha LGA staged a peaceful protest to Lubrik Construction Company at Egbeda,” a state police spokesperson said in reference to another incident of that nature. “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 Rivers State Police Command has made further arrests and will continue to investigate these cases and other related ones, which will then be charged to a Court of competent Jurisdiction.
“The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu has advised that any resident who has complaints of assault, extortion, or illegal detention should make a report at the nearest police station.
“The Rivers State Command is committed to carrying out its duty of protecting lives and property. It will not tolerate any act of illegality, excessive use of force, torture, fraudulent conversion of properties, and other varying forms of criminality by the OSPAC or any other vigilante outfit.”
Disu stated that the command will continue interacting and cooperating with these vigilante groups regarding expectations and constraints, even as it acknowledges the significance and utility of these organizations within the community policing framework.
