Rivers: Police arrest OSPAC vigilante leader with human remains
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested Felix Nwaobakata, leader of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) Security and Peace Advisory Committee (OSPAC), for possession of human remains.
The command announced a crackdown on the excesses of vigilante groups operating within the state, stating that the OSPAC commander was the prime suspect in the killing of two brothers in Idu community, ONELGA.
State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the command had received numerous complaints about the activities of OSPAC.
“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,” she stated.
Iringe-Koko explained that on May 9, 2024, Alhaji Usman Seleh, Chairman of the Hausa Indigenous Group in ONELGA, reported the abduction of a member of his group by OSPAC. Despite police invitations, Nwaobakata refused to cooperate. Instead, OSPAC members attacked the Omoku Police Division but were repelled.
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Tactical units subsequently stormed the ONELGA OSPAC camp in Omoku, arresting seven individuals, including Cheta Benjamin, Joshua Ekwosa, and Innocent Ahiakwu.
Nwaobakata was apprehended in his Omoku hideout on June 17, 2024. Two human skulls and human bones were discovered in his possession.
According to Iringe-Koko, Nwaobakata is the prime suspect in the murder of two brothers, Collins Ugorji, 32, and Newman Ugorji, 39, from Idu Community in ONELGA. OSPAC allegedly killed the brothers on May 1, 2024, on suspicion of kidnapping. Their motorcycles were seized, and their bodies were taken to the OSPAC Secretariat in Omoku, where Nwaobakata reportedly received them. The bodies are yet to be recovered.
In a separate incident on May 31, 2024, OSPAC members led by Egbeda OSPAC Commander, Friday Ogbuji, allegedly ambushed and killed Innocent Didia, a youth leader in Egbeda Community, Emohua LGA. The attack occurred after the youths had peacefully protested at Lubrik Construction Company (LCC) and dispersed following police intervention.
Iringe-Koko affirmed that the command will continue its investigations and charge those involved to court.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, urged residents to report any cases of assault, extortion, or illegal detention to the nearest police station.
Disu emphasised that while community vigilante groups play a role in information gathering, the police will not tolerate any form of criminality. He reassured the public that the command is committed to protecting lives and property within the ambit of the law.
