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Head of vigilante arrested with human skulls, bones in Rivers

Published

2 days ago

July 3, 2024

Head of vigilante arrested with human skulls, bones in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested the commander of a local vigilante group with two human skulls and other parts at his hideout in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.

Felix Nwaobakata, the leader of the local vigilante group was arrested with seven other members of the security outfit for several crimes, including murder in a clampdown on the excesses of vigilante groups operating in the state.

The Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, July 3.Iringe-Koko said Nwaobakata, who is the Commander of the ONELGA Security and Peace Advisory Committee codenamed OSPAC was a principal suspect in the murder of two brothers in Idu in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA of the state on May 1, 2024, on the allegations that they were kidnappers.

The statement noted the arrest of Nwaobakata and other OSPAC members followed numerous complaints about their operations in different parts of the state, especially in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LG, saying the 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.

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“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 brothers were said to have been killed on May 1, 2024, by the OSPAC on the allegation that they were kidnappers.

Their motorcycles were reportedly confiscated, and their bodies were taken 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.”

Head of vigilante arrested with human skulls, bones in Rivers

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Again, gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 6, raze houses

Published

11 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Trends Admin

Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Catherine Anene

Again, gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 6, raze houses

Gunmen suspected to be bandits wreaking havoc in Nigeria’s middle belt State of Benue have struck again.

At least six people have been reportedly killed in attacks on Ayati and Borikyo in the beleaguered Ukum Local Government Area of the State.

Many other locals were wounded and houses were set ablaze in the attacks which happened on Wednesday afternoon.

Locals revealed that the the armed militia during the community invasion shot and killed residents indiscriminately and also burned public properties, including the Ukum Local Government Secretariat.

Many residents fled for their lives, but the unfortunate ones were hit by bullets, and several others were injured.

Properties belonging to influential and prominent people in the area, including the residence of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Paul Biam, in Zaki Biam, were also torched during the onslaught.

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After the attacks, residents, in their numbers, took to the street and blocked the Sankera-Ayati-Sai Road in protest against the perennial invasions of their homes by bandits.

The Ukum Local Government Area office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was razed during the protest against attacks by gunmen.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sewuese Anene, confirmed that six people were killed and many others wounded.

She said, “Upon receipt of this information, police teams, in collaboration with other security agencies, rushed to the area and engaged these bandits who were eventually repelled.”

Meanwhile, the senator representing Benue North-East, Emmanuel Udende, has condemned the attack. He called on security agencies to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the killings

Again, gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 6, raze houses

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EFCC nabs 3 fraudsters impersonating popular cleric on social media

Published

11 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Trends Admin

The three suspects

EFCC nabs 3 fraudsters impersonating popular cleric on social media

Three young men identified as Odion Victor, Amos Godwin and Ayomide Michael have been arrested for impersonating Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach on the social media.

The three men had allegedly created social media platforms in the name of Evangelist Obi to defraud members of the public.

The three fraudsters were arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

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Man, 67, offers two siblings N500 to defile them in Bauchi

Published

11 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Trends Admin

Bauchi State Police spokesman SP Ahmed Wakil

Man, 67, offers two siblings N500 to defile them in Bauchi

A 67-year-old man in Bauchi has been accused of defiling two teenagers and offering them N500.

The fathers of the teenagers was said to have reported the rape incident at the A’ Divisional Police Headquarters on June 22, 2024.

They reported that Mohammed lured their daughters, 17-year Safiya (not real name) and 16-year old ( not real name) of the same address into his room and had carnal knowledge of them.

Spokesman of the Command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil revealed in a statement on Friday that , during interrogation , the suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime and corroborated the victims’ statement.

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He added the victims further revealed that the suspect had carnal knowledge of them each, up to five times and gave them N500 each, adding that investigation was ongoing.