Vigilante commander and three women killed in Omoku, Rivers

A vigilante commander and three women were killed in a targeted attack in Omoku, Rivers State, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, sparking panic in the community and prompting a police manhunt. The victims included Ozemela Stephen Nwaocha, the Omoku Zonal Commander of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), a local security group.

According to police and OSPAC officials, the attack occurred in the evening near Nwaocha's residence along Oba Road in Omoku, the headquarters of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. Preliminary investigations indicate that unidentified gunmen approached Nwaocha while he was seated with his sister and two other women and opened fire. Nwaocha, his sister, and the two other women were killed at the scene. Two additional individuals sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving hospital treatment.

The OSPAC spokesman, Nkem Godknows, described the assault as a "Gestapo-style operation" and stated the incident was reported to police immediately. The attack caused widespread fear, with residents fleeing the area and business owners hurriedly closing their shops.

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the killings on Wednesday,...