Tension engulfed the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday night as heavily armed gunmen launched a brazen attack on the office of a local vigilante group, killing an operative of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) in the process.
The deadly incident occurred around 9 p.m. at the Onelga Security Peace and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) office, situated just behind the Ahoada Local Government Council Secretariat. Residents reported hearing sporadic gunfire that shattered the night’s calm, triggering widespread panic and forcing families to seek shelter indoors.
The victim, identified as Corporal Friday Francis, a gallant operative attached to the Special Intervention Squad, was reportedly caught in the crossfire near the perimeter of the secretariat and fatally shot. His death has intensified growing concerns over worsening security threats in the local council area.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the assailants, whose identities remain unknown, swiftly fled the scene before security operatives could respond. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the ambush, security sources suspect the attack may be connected to persistent cult-related violence and turf rivalries that have long plagued communities within Rivers State.
In swift reaction to the incident, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, visited the crime scene on Tuesday morning, expressing deep concern over the loss of one of the Command’s operatives. Addressing his officers on-site, CP Adepoju condemned the attack as a direct assault on the community’s security infrastructure and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“This is a direct affront to the peace and stability of Ahoada,” the police boss declared. “We must intensify our intelligence operations, dismantle these criminal networks, and decisively end the menace of cultism and armed violence in this region.”
The Commissioner also called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities or persons to law enforcement authorities, assuring them of the Command’s commitment to restoring peace and order.
In response, the Rivers State Police Command has heightened patrols and security surveillance across the Ahoada axis, while an official investigation has been launched to track down those responsible for the ambush.
The latest incident adds to the growing wave of insecurity in parts of Rivers State, where cult clashes and gang violence have continued to pose serious threats to residents’ safety and communal peace.