Tension gripped Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State late Monday night as gunmen launched a deadly assault on the office of a vigilante outfit, Onelga Security Peace and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) office, killing an operative of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) in the process.
The attack, which occurred just behind the Local Government Council Secretariat in Ahoada, sent shockwaves through the community. Residents reported hearing a barrage of gunshots around 9 p.m., prompting panic and forcing many to flee indoors for safety.
The victim, identified as Corporal Friday Francis, an operative of the Special Intervention Squad, was said to have been caught in the crossfire and fatally shot near the secretariat’s perimeter. His death has sparked outrage and deepened fears about the deteriorating security in parts of the LGA.
The assailants, whose identities remain unknown, reportedly escaped before security forces arrived at the scene. While no group has claimed responsibility for the ambush, investigators believe it may be linked to ongoing cult rivalries plaguing the area.
In response to the attack, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, visited the scene of the incident on Tuesday morning. While addressing his officers on the ground, he expressed deep concern over the loss of the SIS operative.
The CP charged the team to intensify efforts to apprehend those behind the deadly ambush.
“This is a direct assault not just on security infrastructure, but on the peace of this community,” he said.
“We must fish out the perpetrators, dismantle their networks, and stamp out the menace of cultism in this area. Anyone who has any information on how to get these cultists should inform the Command”.
The Rivers Police Command has since heightened patrols and surveillance across the Ahoada axis, urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to authorities.
An official investigation is underway.
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