Police in Rivers State have arrested the leader of a local vigilante group and two others for allegedly torturing a man to death in Okogbe community, Ahoada West Local Government Area.
The suspects, identified as vigilante chairman Joshua, member Friday Silas and motorcyclist Obed Godlove, were intercepted on Sunday by youths and a Joint Task Force in nearby Ukpeliede community while they were allegedly attempting to dispose of the victim’s body.
The deceased, known as Ghadafi, was said to have been arrested by the trio on Saturday after he was accused of stealing palm fruits from the community. He was allegedly beaten and tortured until he died, after which the suspects tried to dump his body in a secluded area.
Chief Security Officer of Ukpeliede community, Osiga King, said residents raised alarm after noticing suspicious movement and alerted security operatives. He explained that when the suspects were apprehended, the victim’s hands and legs were still tied with ropes.
King said community members traced a motorcycle carrying what appeared to be a dead body and later found the corpse abandoned in their area, prompting a chase that led to the arrest of the three suspects. He added that the men confessed that the victim died under torture.
The suspects reportedly told community leaders that the deceased had been terrorising the area, stealing palm fruits and had previously stolen a phone belonging to a National Youth Service Corps member. They claimed they had reported him to the police several times but decided to act on their own after allegedly seeing no response.
Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe Koko, confirmed the arrests and said the matter is under investigation. She stated that the deceased had been linked to several criminal complaints, including theft and an attempted sexual assault on a corps member in 2023. The police spokesperson added that the suspects are in custody and that a full investigation is ongoing.
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