1st April, 2022
Okafor Ofiebor/ Port Harcourt
Residents of Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State were thrown into pandemonium in the early hours of Friday as gun battle between suspected members of ‘disbanded’ vigilante group, OSPAC claimed lives of four people.
A native of the community who craved for anonymity disclosed that the killing may not be unconnected to battle for control of illegal levy known as ‘marching ground’ between two factions of ‘disbanded’ OSPAC whose members are alleged to be cultists.
Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that some residents of the community had started leaving the area as early as 8am on Friday over fear that the gang war may escalate into more violence.
Recall that two persons said to be members of one of the factions of disbanded OSPAC was killed in Ibaa in February 2022.
But the acting spokesperson for the Rivers State Police command, DSP Grace Iringe Koko had said then that only one person was killed in the gang violence.
Few weeks ago, the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area,Dr. Chidi Llyod had complained that virtually all the houses in the community have depot for storage of illegally refined petroleum products, popularly known as “Kponfire”.
Most of the violence in Ibaa and the nearby Obelle community are remotely connected to rival cult groups fighting for territorial control of artisanal refining sites and the resources accruing therefrom.
DSP Grace Iringe Koko was yet to respond to text messages sent to her mobile number on the killing on Friday morning