PORT HARCOURT— The Rivers State Police Command to contain the excesses of ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee, OSPAC, across the state has arrested eight members of vigilante group, for alleged involvement in criminal activities.
Police disclosed that the leader of the group, Felix Nwaobakata, was arrested with two human skulls and bones in his possession.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said the action by the police followed repeated complaints from members of the public on activities of OSPAC.
According to Iringe-Koko, “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, 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 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, 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, 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 1, 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 Nwaobakata after residents lamented their criminal actions.”
