Crime

Five Vigilante Members Arrested by Rivers Police After Youth’s Death; Vigilante Leader’s House Set Ablaze by Furious Youths

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 2nd, 2024.

Five Vigilante Members Arrested by Rivers Police After Youth’s Death; Vigilante Leader’s House Set Ablaze by Furious Youths

In Rivers State, police have detained five members of the ONELGA Security Planning Advisory Committee (OSPAC) in the Egbeda community, located in the Emohua Local Government Area. The arrests followed a violent confrontation between local youths and the vigilante group, which resulted in the death of a young man.

According to sources, the unrest began as youths marched through the community to protest the selection of a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) by a construction company working on the Egbeda-Elele road project. Despite being warned by the local vigilance group against any protest, the youths proceeded with their demonstration.

Reports indicate that the protestors were intercepted by OSPAC members at Egbeda roundabout. The vigilante group demanded that the youths disband, but the protestors, asserting their right to peaceful protest, refused. During the ensuing altercation, an OSPAC member named Muffi, who also serves as the group’s commander, allegedly fired his weapon at the crowd. This resulted in the death of a youth named Oregi and left another individual injured.

The Egbeda Police Division responded promptly to a distress call and arrested Muffi along with four other OSPAC members. In response to the incident, enraged youths from the area attacked and set fire to the vigilante commander’s house in Omordu community.

Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrests and stated that firearms were recovered from the suspects. She also mentioned that the case has been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Port Harcourt for further investigation.

Iringe-Koko said, “Yes, five persons were arrested in the community and arms too were recovered. The matter has been transferred to SCIID for discreet investigation.”