7th March, 2022
By Okafor Ofiebor /Port Harcourt
Palpable tension has gripped Obele community in Emohua Local Government area of Rivers State over the alleged killing of a soldier by members of local vigilantes, OSPAC on Saturday.
Angry soldiers and policemen now parade the tensed community.
The soldier who was killed on Saturday night, March 5, was said to be one Collins Worehu, also from Obele.
This has happened exactly three months after OSPAC in Omanwa in Ikwerre local government area shot dead an Airforce personnel who went to demand for the freedom of his brother on January 7.
A former caretaker Chairman of Community Development Committee (CDC), in Obele and a former DPO, Eze Israel Anele, who is the deceased soldier’s uncle told our correspondent that the soldier was on his way home at about 10:30pm on Saturday night when he ran into the members of OSPAC holding some of his relatives.
Anele disclosed that the soldier alighted from the vehicle and approached the vigilante members, who were about eight in number, to enquire about the reason behind their action and asked that the victims be set free.
He stated that an argument ensued as the vigilante members asked the soldier and his friend who works in a Correctional Centre to stay off their business.
“OSPAC members ordered the soldier, his friend and those they had held captive to lie face down. An order which the soldier refused. The blunt refusal angered the vigilantes as one of them pulled out his rifle and shot him twice, one on the head and another on the chest, while other of his relatives sustained gunshot injuries,” he said.
He alleged that after killing the soldier and injuring others, they stole the mobile phones, monies and other personal effects he brought back from peacekeeping operation in the Northern Nigeria.
The retired DPO further said the sound of gunshots attracted the attention of the youths of the community who immediately ran to the scene of the tragic incident.
According to Anele, “Angry youths in the community on hearing the news of the soldier’s death mobilised and went to the OSPAC office and destroyed it, while the members of vigilante and their commander escaped for their lives. The are suspected to have ran into the forest where they carry out illegal Bunkering business.”
Anele also revealed that the OSPAC members had deserted the village while the police and the Nigerian Army are in the community in search of the OSPAC members.
The murdered soldier, Collins Worehu, is serving in Niger State, but came home on permission from the authority of the Nigerian Army.
The case has been reported at the Rumuji Police Division.
The acting spokesperson for Nigerian Police in the state, DSP Iringe Koko was yet to respond to text messages sent to her mobile line on enquiry into the incident.
Also, the spokesman for the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Lt.Colonel Charles Ekeocha has not responded to text messages sent to his mobile phone as at the time of filing this report.