A clash that happened on Friday between vigilante members and protesting youths in Egbeda, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, has reportedly claimed the life of one person while five OSPAC (local vigilante) members were arrested by the police.
THE WHISTLER learnt that the deceased, identified as Oregi from the Omuipo clan in the Egbeda community and other Youths were marching around the community to protest against the choice of a particular Community Liason Officer(CLO) to a construction company handling the Egbeda-Elele road construction when the vigilante members intercepted them which resulted to the death of Oregi.
Our source disclosed that the youth were reportedly warned by local vigilantes not to embark on the protest before they(Youth) commenced the protest.
It was learnt that while the protest was ongoing,some of the OSPAC members intercepted the peaceful protesters at Egbeda roundabout and urged them to disperse but the youths refused on the ground that they had the right to peacefully suppress their opinion.
The source disclosed that an OSPAC member popularly known as Muffi said to be their commander got infuriated and allegedly opened fire on the protesters resulting to the death of Oregi whine one other person was said to have sustained gunshot injuries.
It was gathered that the Egbeda Police Division responded on time to arrest the prime suspect, aka Muffi and four other members of OSPAC. Some unidentified youths were also said to have stormed Omordu clan in Egbeda and burnt the house of Muffi, the OSPAC Commander.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command,SP Grace Iringe Koko was yet to respond to inquiries on the incident at the time of going to the press.