By Witness Reporters
Mixed reactions have trailed the killing of killing of a Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) operative as residents say the SARS’ onslaught in Rivers State may have prompted the killing of the police officer.
The crime was allegedly committed at the Oyigbo axis of Rivers State where the office is located since the past three weeks. The hoodlums allegedly ransacked the office and took away some items. Amadi Harrison, a resident, told The Witness reporter that incident occurred late hours of Wednesday and that it may not be unconnected with the way SARS operatives conduct their assignment in Rivers State particularly Oyigbo.
However, reports from DAILY POST said tension is building up there as a result of the incident.
DAILY POST and theportcitynews said arrests have so far been made.
DAILY POST report, “DAILY POST gathered that the Police Officer who is attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS is said to be a native of Enugu State and was allegedly abducted and killed by hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB in the area.
“The slain officer who was believed to be on special duty around Oyigbo reportedly took permission from his squad leader to go out in search of food, Wednesday night when he was abducted, taken to a bush path and slaughtered by his killers.
“A source within the area said, “Passersby who saw the dead body of the police alerted the Oyigbo Divisional Police who dispatched officers attached to tactical units of Operation Sting and Anti-Cultism and others to curtail the activities of the rampaging hoodlums who later retreated to a neighbouring state after the exchange of fire”.
“A senior officer who was part of the operation revealed that the hoodlums mutilated the body of the deceased officer indicating that the officer was killed, “in a very cruel manner.”
“When contacted, Spokesman of Rivers State Police Command, SP Nnamdi Omoni confirmed the incident but said details of the development are still sketchy.
“The Rivers State Police Command had in a pre-Independence Day address warned hoodlums acting in the guise of the proscribed IPOB members to stay off the state or face the full wrath of the law.
However, theportcitynews wrote, “Unknown gunmen on Wednesday night raided the operational base of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, killing one of the officers and damaging properties at the base.
“Eyewitnesses said the attack on the base was as a result of the illegal arrests and extortion by SARS operatives from the base.
“The sources say the SARS operatives had opened fire on some indigenes who were fortified with charms on the eve of independence day.
”One of the sources who did not want his name made public said that It’s been three weeks since the SARS unit was brought in Oyigbo by the LGA chairman, Gerald Offorji.
“According to him, it is believed that he brought them in to extort the youths and pay him dividends from the extortion.
“Before they came in, this town has been relatively peaceful, calm and quiet, good for business and all.
“In this three weeks of SARS been in Oyigbo, there has been extortion of young boys, even kids not up to 12.
” Now what prompted this recent incident was because they accosted some young men last night after picking up like 20 others in their vans.
“The young boys refused to follow them. They opened fire on these boys but unfortunately, they had charms. The youths came through last night to attack them and say NO to the LGA chairman allowing SARS in the LGA”
Meanwhile, Witness learnt that 22 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000; He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
