Nigeria: Gunmen Kill Rivers Vigilante Leader, Three Women in Omoku

What the report says

AllAfrica, republishing a Vanguard report from Port Harcourt, says unidentified gunmen killed Ozomela Stephen Nwaocha, the Omoku Zonal Commander of the ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), along with three women in Omoku, Rivers State. The attack reportedly happened on Monday evening on Oba Road in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

According to the report, OSPAC Public Relations Officer Comrade Nkem Godknows said Nwaocha was near his home with his sister and her friend when the attackers arrived and opened fire. He said three women died at the scene, while two other people were wounded and taken to hospital. Vanguard reported that the shooting caused panic in the area, with residents running for safety and businesses shutting quickly.

Godknows said police were notified after the incident and urged residents to stay calm, saying OSPAC would work with security agencies to identify those responsible. He also appealed for more support for OSPAC members, saying the local vigilante outfit lacked adequate welfare and financial assistance.

The Rivers State Police Command condemned the killings. Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe, identified in the report as an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the command was troubled by the attack and asked residents to provide information that could help investigators. Vanguard reported that security patrols were under way and that normal activity had reportedly resumed in the area. The incident is significant because OSPAC is part of local security arrangements in ONELGA, an area where community-level vigilance groups have often been relied upon to support formal policing.