Rivers Vigilante Commander Arrested With Human Skulls
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested Felix Nwaobakata, the Commander of the ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), a local vigilante group, with two human skulls and other human remains in his hideout in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest was part of a clampdown on vigilante groups in the state following numerous complaints about their operations and clashes with other security agencies. Nwaobakata is also a principal suspect in the murder of two brothers in Idu, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA.
According to the police, Nwaobakata was arrested on June 17, 2024, after ignoring several invitations to discuss the abduction of a group member reported by Alhaji Usman Seleh, Chairman of the Hausa Indigenous Group in ONELGA. Instead, Nwaobakata coordinated an attack on the Omoku police division.
The police said that Nwaobakata is a principal suspect in the murder of two brothers, Collins Ugorji (32) and Newman Ugorji (39), of the Idu Community in ONELGA on May 1, 2024, on allegations that they were kidnappers.
The Rivers State Police Command has commenced a clampdown on the excesses of vigilante groups operating within the state. The police said that 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 LGA, including recent clashes with other security agencies and an attack on a police division in Omoku.
The incident has highlighted the need for greater oversight and regulation of vigilante groups to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The Rivers State Command has reassured the public and all key stakeholders that it will continue to work within the ambit of the law and issue a stern warning to any individual or group who chooses to operate outside the scope of the law.
