The police have apprehended approximately nine individuals, including members of a local vigilante group, for their suspected role in the killing of a man named Oregi in the Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State, specifically in the Egbeda community.
The deceased, who was from the Omuipo clan in the Egbeda community, and others, reportedly started a protest on Friday against the selection of a certain Community Liason Officer by a construction company managing the Egbeda-Elele Road Construction.
A community member, speaking in confidentiality, claimed that the young people disobeyed an order to stay away from the protest despite being told to do so by the OSPAC, a local vigilante group. While the protest was going on, he added that some OSPAC members had stopped them at the Egbeda roundabout and begged them to stop, but the young people refused, claiming they had the right to peaceful protest.
“They (protesters) even brought a coffin to the business’s location, but they left after receiving some cash. However, rather than putting an end to the demonstrations, they began to march through the Egbeda village while singing war songs, which prompted the OSPAC to confront them. The OSPAC Commander became enraged throughout this procedure and started shooting at the demonstrators”
This is the manner in which Oregi was shot and ultimately killed. Following the gunfire, a few further demonstrators sustained injuries. The young people, who were upset by the young man’s passing, went straight to Muffi, the vigilante commander, and set fire to his home, according to the source.
The OSPAC Commander’s residence was set on fire by them, he claimed. His father was reportedly inside the house as well, but I’m unable to verify that aspect of the tale. The police arrived and took Muffi and his fellow vigilante members into custody as the town was in a state of confusion.
Grace Iringe-Koko, a spokeswoman for the Rivers police, confirmed the death and the arrest when reached and stated that an investigation was still underway. Iringe-Koko declared:
“I can attest to the incident, yes. Included in the nine people taken into custody is the OSPAC Commander. They are under suspicion in the young man’s passing. “The State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department has been notified about the matter.”
