Police arrest vigilante members, one other over killing of suspected thief in Rivers
Three Arrested in Alleged Murder of Suspected Thief in Rivers State
RIVERS STATE, Nigeria—Authorities have arrested three individuals in connection with the alleged murder of a suspected thief in the Okogbe community of Ahoada-West Local Government Area.
The suspects, identified as Joshua, Friday Silas, and Godlove Obed, include two members of a local vigilante group and a commercial motorcyclist. They are accused of torturing a man identified as Gaddafi to death after he was alleged to have stolen palm fruits within the community.
The arrests occurred in Ukpeliede, also in Ahoada-West LGA, during a joint operation involving community youths and operatives from the Joint Task Force. The suspects were reportedly intercepted while attempting to dispose of Gaddafi’s body.
During police interrogation, Joshua, the vice chairman of the Okogbe vigilante group, claimed that Gaddafi had posed a persistent security threat to the area. He stated that the group intended to expel Gaddafi from the community, but the man died during the incident.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command and Chief Superintendent of Police, confirmed the arrests. “The suspect was involved in several cases of theft and also attempted to rape a member of the National Youth Service Corps in 2023. He was assaulted by community youths, which led to his death,” Iringe-Koko told reporters on Monday. She added that investigations are ongoing and the suspects remain in custody.
