June 24, (THEWILL) – Suspected members of the Iceland cult group have killed a police officer, Corporal Francis Friday, and Ngozi Ipah, an operative of the local vigilante group, OSPAC, in a fresh wave of violence in Rivers State.
The fatal attack occurred on Monday night, just days after the Sole Administrator of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Goodluck Iheamnacho, was assaulted in his office.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and described it as a brutal and targeted assault by cultists.
According to the statement, at about 8:00 p.m. on June 23, armed assailants—led by two known cult leaders, Umegbewe Kingsley, a.k.a. “Gutam,” and one Opaka (surname unknown)—stormed the OSPAC office located beside the Ahoada East Council Secretariat and opened fire on its operatives.
“During the assault, OSPAC operative Ngozi Ipah was shot. While fleeing the scene, the attackers also gunned down Corporal Francis Friday, a police officer attached to the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), who was on special duty at the council secretariat,” the statement said.
Police patrol teams, led by the Divisional Police Officer, arrived swiftly at the scene, but the assailants had already escaped. Both victims were rushed to the Ahoada General Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds but were confirmed dead on arrival. Their remains have been deposited in the hospital morgue for autopsy.
Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, PSC, MNIPS, has since visited the crime scene and ordered the deployment of tactical teams to the area. He also directed the Area Commander and Divisional Police Officer to intensify efforts to track down and arrest the perpetrators.
“The Command strongly condemns this senseless act of violence and assures the public that the killers of the police officer and the OSPAC operative will not go unpunished,” the statement read.
The police have urged residents of the area to remain calm and to cooperate with law enforcement by reporting any suspicious individuals or activities to the nearest police station.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
