8th May, 2024
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The family of two siblings, Collins Ugorji, 33 years, and Newman Ugorji, 28 years has accused members of the OSPAC vigilante group in the Edu community, of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni local government area of Rivers State of killing the two brothers after robbing them of their money.
A cousin to the two brothers, Wade Ugorji who made the allegation in an interview with our reporter said the vigilante operatives falsely accused the two brothers of being kidnappers after killing them.
He added that the remains of the brothers are still missing.
He said, “It was on the 1st of this month that the young men went to Edu community to buy something so the OSPAC members at Edu stopped them, took their money, killed them and said they are kidnappers.
“They also made away with their two motorcycles and their bodies. Up till now, their bodies have not been found.
“There was a rumour in the morning of the following day that OSPAC killed two kidnappers at Edu. So some people who came there, saw the bodies and took some pictures.
“When the Edu indigene saw them, they said these guys are Chinem’s children, they are not kidnappers, we know them, that was when OSPAC took their bodies and went away.
“I don’t know where they buried them. Again,they (OSPAC) are still threatening to kill the eldest brother of the siblings who went to report the matter at the Police station. One of of OSPAC vigilante operatives called him yesterday, that they are going to kill him, the way they killed his brothers if he continues to pursue the case.
“We are calling on citizens of Nigeria, Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor who is from our area, we are also calling on Eze Ogba, Ogba of Ogbaland, Chairman of ONELGA that they should bring these people to book.
“If it continues like this, who will be the next person they will kill? So the extrajudicial killing must be put to an end, we are calling everyone to make sure perpetrators of these evil are brought to book ”
The deceased siblings are from Oboburu in ONELGA
In the meantime the Public Relations Officer of OSPAC, Godknows Nkem in a telephone interview journalists stated that members of the vigilate group did not kill anybody.
Rather, Nkem alleged that it was the deceased siblings and their gang who shot at OSPAC members at Edu community and one of the (OSPAC) members is still receiving treatment.
Asked by Journalists what led to the death of the two siblings, the OSPAC spokesperson said, “I was not at the scene and am not aware if anybody died aside the OSPAC members who were shot by the hoodlums”.
Meanwhile, a reliable source informed that a suspected OSPAC member and four residents of the Edu community have been arrested by the operatives of Omoku Police Division over the death of the two brothers.
Superintendent of Police(SP) Grace Iringe Koko spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command when contacted said she will get back to journalists, but was yet to do so as at the time of filing this report.