Violence has erupted in the Obele community of Emohua LGA in Rivers State, following the shooting death of a member of the OSPAC vigilante group. The victim was reportedly killed on Wednesday by suspected cultists.
In what is believed to be a reprisal attack, four individuals were shot in Omuwhoke Ngbume village, Obele. However, the victims have not yet reported the incident to the Rivers State Police Command.
The Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed awareness of the disturbance but noted the lack of official reports from the injured parties.
The unrest reportedly began when Chinanu Eleonu, an OSPAC operative involved in pipeline surveillance, had a dispute with Chigozie Woka, a former councillor from Port Harcourt Ward 17, and other community members. Sources familiar with the matter say Eleonu narrowly escaped an attack a week prior.
The latest shooting incident is believed to be a reprisal for that previous encounter. One of the gunshot victims, identified as Eze, confirmed the attack but denied being affiliated with any cult group when speaking to a journalist by phone.
“My name is Eze,from Obele town in Emohua LGA.Me and my brother as we were in the house I heard a bike(motorbike) sound in front of our house.
“I stood up I said let me go and check the people, I now saw Naked boys with guns, I told my brother to run, and as we started running they began to shoot us, now they shot me, shot my brother, we are like four in number they shot. I have not seen one up till now.
“We called the village if they had seen my brother, and they said, they had not seen him.
“Naked is from Ibaa, he said he is security surveillance, I don’t know. I am not a cultist. They said that we are giving information. That is the last thing I heard in the community before I left, I don’t know who I am giving information to”
Meanwhile, the former Councilor, Mr Chigozie Woka whose house was attacked and burnt on Sunday, 3rd November 2024 is blaming Mr Eleonu for the arson attack. He said “My name is Chigozie Woka, I served as a Councillor in PortHarcourt City Local Government Area.
“What is happening in Obele today, Obele has been having a crisis because of this young man called Naked.
“This young man is not from Obele, he is from Ibaa, he comes to Obele to take refuge. He called me on the phone to say I was working with the security agency to chase him out of Obele. I told him I was not working with anybody because I didn’t have any plans like that.
“It was on Sunday I was in PortHarcourt, they called me that he had gone to my house with his OSPAC boys, this young man if he is called for profiling as an OSPAC personnel will not come, he went to my house they told me he scattered everywhere put the house on fire.
“What off is my crime, that I am. working with security agencies and I want them to chase him out of Obele.I have been fighting against this crime.I want Obele to be a peaceful land just like other communities”.
In a swift reaction, however, Achor Egberuwho, the youth leader of Omuobu village in Ibaa speaking on behalf of Mr Eleonu said
“It is laughable that Chigozie Woka will stoop so low. Chigoze supported by his paymaster led this group of rascals to Obele on Sunday morning if not for the grace of God, Chinanu Eleonu aka naked barely survived.
“Chigozie has been boasting that Obele will know no peace except the CDC Chairman position is being given to him.
“It was Chigozie Woka. who attacked Naked with his gang. We have been hearing that houses have been burnt in Obele, and people have been shot. Now, if Naked is an OSPAC, will an OSPAC kill fellow OSPAC?Do you know that Naked barely escaped on Sunday, Chigozie left his boys inside the bush they came out Monday evening to kill an OSPAC member as the other OSPAC men escaped.
“So the OSPAC are searching for the killers. No house has been razed down. We call on the public to go to Obele to see if any house was burnt and if any other person has been killed except the OSPAC member who was killed by Chigozie and his gang. Chinanu Eleonu did not destroy any house nor did he kill anybody.
“Chinanu Eleonu is a loving and peaceful fellow, he is working as surveillance and has stopped illegal oil bunkering in EMOLGA. He has stopped all forms of illegality including drug abuse.”