Members of a vigilante group in Rivers State known as OSPAC have reportedly killed two siblings, Collins Ugorji and Newman Ugorji in Idu community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.
The cousin of the deceased, Wade Ugorji, told our reporter in Port Harcourt that Collins and Newman had gone to Idu area of the state to visit a relation when they were arrested by the vigilante group.
He said that the security men branded his cousins kidnappers, took them to custody and consequently shot them to death.
He said a motorbike that belonged to the victims as well as their other personal belongings were taken away by the vigilante group.
He said, “On the 1st of may 2024, my cousin, Mr Collins Ugorji popularly known as NwaAba and and his younger brother Mr Newman Ugorji, who just came from Benin where he was based, went to Idu community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni L.G.A in Rivers State in the evening and they were arrested by the OSPAC officials, who killed both of them claiming that they were kidnappers.
“On the 2nd of May, we heard news that two kidnappers were killed at Idu, as their pictures went viral on the social media. I was called by someone who recognised them. We went to Omoku Police Division and reported the matter. The DPO and his men and two of my brothers went to Idu community. One of the OSPAC members was threatening the DPO, saying if not that he is the DPO, he would not have taken it lightly with him.
“The vigilante member threatened and warned the DPO not to come back to the area again. As of this moment, their corpses are nowhere to be found. They hid the bodies as soon as they discovered that the two brothers were innocent but their ploy could not work because some people within the area took pictures of the corpses. The slippers of Mr Newman was recovered in Idu OSPAC office with blood stains.”
Wade called on the state governor, the IGP and the state Commissioner of Police and well-meaning citizens of Rivers to come to his aid and ensure that the killers of his cousins are apprehended.
The Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe Koko, confirmed that the DPO of Omoku Police Division with his patrol team had visited Idu community.
She said one of the vigilante members and four other suspects had been arrested in connection to the murder, adding the case had been transferred to State Criminal and Investigation Department for discreet investigation.
