Head Of Vigilante Arrested With Human Skulls, Bones

The Rivers State Police Command apprehended the head of a local vigilante group in Omoku, the state’s Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, after discovering two human skulls and other parts in his hideout.

Felix Nwaobakata, the head of the local vigilante organisation, was arrested together with seven other security personnel for a variety of offences, including murder, as part of a crackdown on the excesses of vigilante groups operating in the state.

Grace Iringe-Koko, Spokesperson for the State Police Command, confirmed this in a statement made in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, July 3.

According to Iringe-Koko, Nwaobakata, Commander of the ONELGA Security and Peace Advisory Committee dubbed OSPAC, was a key suspect in the murder of two brothers in Idu, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA, on May 1, 2024, on suspicions that they were kidnappers.

According to the statement, the arrest of Nwaobakata and other OSPAC members followed numerous complaints about their operations in various parts of the state, particularly in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LG, where operatives of the outfit recently attacked a police division in Omoku and clashed with other security agencies.

The statement read, “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 OSPAC claimed to have slain the brothers on May 1, 2024, on charges of kidnapping.

Their motorcycles were apparently seized, and their remains were delivered to the OSPAC secretariat in Omoku.

In another related incident, the state police spokesperson said, “On May 3, 2024, the Youths of Egbeda Community in Emuoha LGA staged a peaceful protest to Lubrik Construction Company 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, 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.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli