Story by Ola Kay
The Rivers State Police Command informed that it has arrested an OSPAC, (local vigilante group) member and four others in connection with the killings of two siblings, Collins Ugorji, (aged 33) and Newman Ugorji, (aged 28) in Idu community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State and transferred immediately to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Port Harcourt.
Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command,Superintendent of Police,SP, Grace Iringe Koko in responding to the incident said that, “The DPO Omoku with his patrol team swiftly stormed Idu community based on the reported case of murder brought before the station on May 7, 2024.
Meanwhile,a member of OSPAC and four suspects were arrested in connection with the case of murder,while the matter was transferred to SCIID for discreet investigation.
Earlier in an interview with with journalists, the family of two deceased siblings had accused OSPAC vigilante group in Idu community of killing their brothers after robbing them of their money.
Elder cousin to the deceased siblings, Wade Ugorji stated in an interview thus:
“It was on the first of this month that the young men went to Idu community to buy something so the OSPAC members at Estopped them, took their money,killed them and paraded their victims as kidnappers.
“They also made away with their two motorcycles and their bodies. Uptill now,their bodies have not been found.
Another deceased victim
“There was a rumour in the morning of the following day that they killed two kidnappers at Edu, that OSPAC killed two kidnappers at Idu. So some people who came there saw the bodies and took some pictures.
“When the Idu indigenes saw them, they identified them as Chinem’s children and that they are not kidnappers. We know them, that was when OSPAC took their bodies and went away.
“I don’t know where they buried them. Again, they (OSPAC) are still threatening to kill the eldest brother of the siblings who went to report the matter at the Police station. One of them was called by OSPAC yesterday, that they are going to kill him, the way they killed his brothers if he continues to pursue the case.
Based on this development, the family appealed for interventions, saying, “We are calling on citizens of Nigeria, Governor of Rivers State,the Deputy Governor who is from our area and also calling on Eze Ogba,Ogba of Ogbaland, Chairman of ONELGA that they should help bring these people to book.
“If it continues like this,who will be the next person they will kill again.So, the extrajudicial killing must be put to an end,we are calling everyone to come,to make sure perpetrators of these evil are brought to book “
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of OSPAC,Godknows Nkem in a telephone Interview stated that OSPÀC did not kill anybody.
Mr. Nkem alleged that, rather, it was the deceased siblings and their gang who shot at OSPAC members at Idu community and one of them(OSPAC) members is currently receiving treatment.
When asked about what led to the death of the two siblings,the OSPAC spokesperson said, “I was not at the scene and am not aware if anybody died aside the OSPAC members who were shot by the hoodlums”.
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