Nine Suspects In Police Custody Over Protesters Clash

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested nine persons in Egbeda Community in Emohua Local Government Area of the State following clashes between protesting youths and OSPAC (vigilante) in the community that allegedly led to the death of one protester.
The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident in Port Harcourt.
She said investigations into the incident had commenced and asurred that those found culpable will be prosecuted.
It was reported that penultimate Friday morning some youths from Egbeda Community protested against the choice of a Community Liason Officer (CLO) to a construction company in the community and were confronted by the community’s vigilante security outfit, OSPAC, to stop the protest.
In the process of resisting the order, the leader of OSPAC, popularly called Blackky, allegedly pulled out his gun and shut one Oregi.
A source from the community said the death of Mr, Oregi angered the irate youths, who, in retaliation to the killing, stormed the house of the OSPAC Commander and set the building ablaze.
The source further disclosed that a Sienna car believed to be the operational vehicle of OSPAC in the community was set ablaze by the irate youth.
An unconfirmed report stated that five OSPAC personnel were among the nine persons arrested so far by the State Police Command.

Akujobi Amadi