The mystery surrounding the killing of the Omoku Zonal Commander of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area Organised Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), Ozomela Stephen Nwaocha, has deepened following a deadly attack by unidentified gunmen that also claimed the lives of three women in Rivers State.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday evening along Oba Road in Omoku, left two other persons with gunshot wounds. The survivors are receiving treatment in hospital, while security agencies have launched an investigation to unravel the motive behind the killings.
The incident threw the community into panic as residents fled for safety and business owners hurriedly shut their shops amid fears of further violence.
Confirming the attack, the Public Relations Officer of OSPAC in Rivers State, Nkem Godknows, said the commander was relaxing in front of his residence with his sister and her friend when the assailants struck at about 5:05 p.m.
According to him, the gunmen walked up to the group and opened fire, killing Nwaocha and three women on the spot, while two others sustained gunshot injuries.
“We reported the incident to the police immediately,” he said.
Godknows appealed to residents of Omoku and the wider Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, urging them to continue with their lawful activities despite the tragic incident.
He also called on the Rivers State Government to strengthen support for OSPAC, lamenting that members of the community-based security outfit operate under difficult conditions due to poor remuneration and inadequate funding.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the identity of the attackers nor the motive for the killings had been established, raising fresh concerns over the circumstances surrounding the assassination of the local security commander.
Reacting to the incident, the Rivers State Police Command described the attack as a major setback to the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.
The Command’s spokesperson, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko Agabe, said the police had commenced investigations and were determined to identify, arrest and prosecute those behind the killings.
She appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could assist investigators in unraveling the mystery surrounding the attack.
