The assailants also torched the residence of a former rivers councillor in the area and left at least four others injured from gunfire.
Gunmen, believed to be affiliated with cult groups, brutally killed a member of a local vigilante group in the Obele community, located in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. The victim, who was part of the ONELGA Security Peace and Advisory Committee, was attacked during a violent incident on Wednesday night.
The assailants also torched the residence of a former councillor in the area and left at least four others injured from gunfire. One survivor, who went by the name Eze, recounted the terrifying experience to reporters on Thursday. He described being at home with his brother when they suddenly heard gunfire followed by the sound of motorcycles approaching. The attackers, who accused them of being police informants, opened fire without warning.
“I got up to see who it was and recognized boys working for someone known as ‘Naked’ armed with guns. I immediately urged my brother to escape. As we ran away, they shot at us. There were four of us in total, and I haven’t seen my brother since. We’ve tried calling around, but no one has been able to locate him. They accused us of supplying information to law enforcement. That was the last thing I heard before I ran,” Eze said.
Former Councillor Chigozie Woka, a resident of Obele, alleged that the same individual, “Naked,” orchestrated the violent attack. Woka revealed that “Naked,” who hails from the Ibaa community, had previously issued threats against him regarding his supposed collaboration with security forces.
“I was a councillor in Port Harcourt, and Obele has been plagued by turmoil due to this young man, ‘Naked’. He doesn’t even belong to Obele; he comes here for refuge. He recently called me, accusing me of working with law enforcement to oust him,” Woka stated. He shared that while he was in Port Harcourt last Sunday, he received news that “Naked” and his OSPAC associates had raided and set fire to his home. “He stormed my residence with his OSPAC boys and destroyed everything. What offense did I commit? That I’m cooperating with law enforcement?” he lamented.
Further complicating matters, Woka asserted that “Naked” and his crew were responsible for the recent shooting that left four individuals wounded, claiming they had accused the victims of working with the police.
In a counter-response, Achor Egberuwho, the acting Youth Chairman of Omuobu village in Ibaa, rejected Woka’s allegations and accused him of financing cultists to attack “Naked.” Egberuwho contended that Woka was the one behind the assault against “Naked” and maintained that “Naked” is a member of OSPAC and could not have been involved in harming fellow operatives. “It’s absurd for Chigozie Woka to make such claims. He led a group in an attempt to attack ‘Naked’. Had it not been for divine intervention, ‘Naked’ might have been killed,” Egberuwho asserted.
As of the time of this report, the shooting death of the OSPAC member, the injuries to four individuals, and the arson at Woka’s residence had all been reported to the Rumuji Police Division. Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the fatality and the destruction of the house but noted that she had yet to receive comprehensive details regarding the injuries suffered by the four victims. “Yes, I can confirm that one person was killed, and a house was destroyed. An investigation is underway to identify and apprehend those responsible,” Iringe-Koko stated.
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