Violence has erupted in Obele Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers as a member of the ONELGA Security Advisory Committee (OSPAC) was killed by suspected cultists, and four other persons were reportedly shot in Omuwhoke Ngbume village, Obele, in Wednesday 6th November 2024.
One of the persons shot,who gave his name as Eze in a Telephone interview with Journalists said “My name is Eze,from Obele town in Emohua LGA.Me and my brother as we are in the house we heard bike(motorbike) sound Infront 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,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 uptill now.
“We are calling in the village if they have seen my brother,they said,they have not seen him.
“Naked is from Ibaa,he said he is security surveillance,I dont 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 dont know who I am giving information to”.
Meanwhile a former Councillor in PortHarcourt ward 17,Chigozie Woka,a native of Obele whose house was attacked and destroyed by gunmen last Sunday,November 3,2024 have also accused the same “Naked” of been responsible.
In an interview with our reporter,Mr Woka 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 being having crisis because of this young man called Naked.
“This youngman is not from Obele,he is from Ibaa,he comes to Obele to take refuge.He called me on phone to say I am working with the security agency to chase him out of Obele,I told him I am not working with anybody because I dont have any plans like that.
“It was on Sunday I was in PortHarcourt,they called me that he has gone to my house with his OSPAC boys,this young man if he is called for profiling as an OSPAC personnel he will not come,he went to my house they told me he scattered everywhere put the house on fire.
“Whst 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 community.
“He made Obele his camp,kidnapping,committing all sought of crimes in Obele .When this thing happen, the security agencies we not know who to hold because whenever they come,he will run into the bush.
“These are the things happening in Obele.After he scattered my house and put fire in my house.I have to go to the Police in Rumuji,I have made entry there .
“Today again I am surprised that they are calling me that he has gone to my place to shoot some people in my community that they are working with me and the Police,to chase him out.He shot four people,they can only see three that are looking for way to treat themselves,one I dont know if he is dead,they are calling me they cannot reach that one” .
In a swift reaction, Achor Egberuwho, acting Youth Chairman of Omuobu village in Ibaa who spoke on behalf of Chinanu Eleonu(Naked) denied the allegation but rather accused Chigozie Woka of sponsporing cultists to attack and kill him(Naked).
Mr Egberuwho in a telephone interview with Journalists said “. It is laughable that Chigozie Woka will stoop so low.Chigoze supported by his pay master 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 being hearing that houses have been burnt in Obele,people have been shot.Now, is 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 that was killed by Chigozie and his gang.Chinanu Eleonu did not destroy any house neither 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.
“Just because he called this set of people to allow peace and rule of law,they said no.The OSPAC who was killed is from Obele.Rumuji Division is also aware of the killing of the OSPAC member”.
As at press time we gathered that the killing of the OSPAC personnel,reported shooting of four and destruction of house of the former councillor has been reported to Rumuji Police Division.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the killing of OSPAC member and destruction of the Councillor’s house .
Iringe-Koko, however, said there no report in the station on shooting of four persons confirmed the killing of OSPAC member and destruction of the Councillor’s house .