Alleged Vandalisation By OSPAC Causes Panic In Rivers Community
2 min read
Edith CHUKU
Fear has gripped residents of Obelle Town in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, following the purported destruction of the residence of Chief Israel Anele, a former acting chairman, community development community in the community.
Anele, whose house was set ablaze, allegedly by some members of the disbanded local vigilante group, OSPAC, is also an ex-Divisional Police Officer, DPO.
He claimed the group, allegedly led by one ‘Naked Wire’ came to his house at about 4pm, last Friday, ‘threw his 70-year-old aunt out of the building, removed all the burglary proof in his house, before pouring petrol and setting his seven-bedroom flat ablaze.’
According to him, his only offence was that he spoke against the killing of his younger Nephew, Darlington Worahu, a serving soldier who was killed March 5, 2022 at Obelle community, and also, ensured the transfer of the case from Rumuji Divisional Police Headquarters to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID.
Anele said he has been receiving threats due to his resolve to follow up the matter. He also disclosed that he fled the state after he was allegedly trailed to his house in Port Harcourt.
The retired police officer revealed that he has phoned the DPO of Rumuji Police Division and was asked to come down to the station to make a formal report.
The incident, residents said has brought fear on those residing in the area. Speaking with TNN in an interview, Mr. Gabriel Amadi recounted how two persons were reportedly killed last Thursday, by gunmen suspected to be cultists.
Amadi said, “we are all living in fear, nobody in Obelle sleeps with his eyes closed, infact, some don’t sleep at all, we need peace, security in Obelle, how can people be killed like foul, it is terrible, government should help us.”
Meanwhile, TNN gathered that, last month, the Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, deployed patrol vans to the community, when two young men were killed in a farm road in Obelle.
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