Rivers State: Vigilante leader with human skull, other parts arrested

In an attempt to rein in the outbursts of the ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee, OSPAC, throughout the state, the Rivers State Police Command has detained more than eight vigilante members on suspicion of engaging in illegal activity.

Two human skulls and other bones were found in the custody of Felix Nwaobakata, the group’s leader, according to police reports.

In a statement released in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, stated that the police action was a response to many public complaints about OSPAC’s operations in the state.

Iringe-Koko particularly 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.

She said: “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.

“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, CP 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.

“While recognizing the relevance and importance of these vigilante groups in the Community Policing System, with regards to information gathering and visibility, among others, the Command will keep engaging and synergizing with these groups on what is expected of them and their limitations. The rights of all as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended must be respected.”