A wave of violence has swept through the Obele community in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, following the fatal shooting of a member of the OSPAC vigilante group by suspected cultists. The vigilante, identified as Chinanu Eleonu, commonly known as "Naked," was reportedly killed on Wednesday during what has become an increasingly dangerous feud between local factions. Four others were reportedly shot in what is believed to be a reprisal attack in Omuwhoke Ngbume village.
The Rivers State Police Command has acknowledged the rising tension, with spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko confirming awareness of the incident. However, she added that the four men allegedly targeted in the reprisal attack have not yet reported to the police.
Sources reveal that the tension began when Eleonu, who also worked in pipeline surveillance, became embroiled in a heated dispute with former Port Harcourt Ward 17 councillor Chigozie Woka and other members of the Obele community. According to one insider, Eleonu narrowly escaped an attack last week but later sought retaliation, leading to the recent shooting incident.
One of the gunshot victims, who identified himself as Eze, recounted the terrifying ordeal to journalists. "My name is Eze, from Obele town in Emohua LGA. Me and my brother were at home when we heard a motorbike approach. I went outside and saw 'Naked' and his boys with guns. I told my brother to run, but they began shooting as we tried to flee," Eze said, still in shock. "I don’t know where my brother is now. We called around, but nobody has seen him."
Eze vehemently denied any involvement in cult activities, despite claims that "Naked" and his associates suspected him of being an informant. "I'm not a cultist," he insisted. "They accused us of giving information, but I don’t know who I'm supposedly informing."
Meanwhile, Chigozie Woka, the former councillor whose house was reportedly attacked and burned on Sunday, blamed Eleonu for the arson. Woka condemned Eleonu's actions, accusing him of wreaking havoc in the community. "This young man called 'Naked' has brought nothing but crisis to Obele. He isn’t even from here; he's from Ibaa but keeps coming here to cause trouble," Woka said. "I was in Port Harcourt when they told me he had gone to my house with his OSPAC boys, ransacked everything, and set it on fire."
Woka maintained that Eleonu accused him of colluding with security agencies to have him expelled from Obele. "My only crime, according to him, is that I work with security agencies and want peace in my community," Woka said. "All I want is a peaceful Obele, free from crime."
The accusations sparked a counter-response from Achor Egberuwho, the youth leader of Omuobu village in Ibaa and an ally of Eleonu. Egberuwho scoffed at Woka's allegations, claiming that Woka had instigated the violence. "It's laughable that Chigozie Woka would stoop so low. He and his backers led a gang of thugs to attack 'Naked' on Sunday morning. If not for God's grace, Eleonu would have been killed," Egberuwho asserted. "Woka has been bragging that Obele will know no peace until he becomes the CDC Chairman."
Egberuwho denied reports of arson or further violence, insisting that only one OSPAC member, attacked by Woka’s men, had been killed. "No house has been burned. No one else has been harmed except the OSPAC member targeted by Woka and his gang," Egberuwho stated. "Eleonu is a committed vigilante—he's fought against illegal oil bunkering and drug abuse in EMOLGA. He didn’t destroy any property, and he certainly didn’t kill anyone."
