The crisis in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State has continued to fester as yet to be identified gunmen stormed the area on Monday night and gunned down two security operatives within the precinct of the council secretariat.
According to locals, the gunmen launched a surprise assault on the office of the local vigilante group, located behind the council secretariat.
The gunfire, which echoed through the town, sent residents scrambling for safety, it was gathered.
The attack it was learnt claimed the life of one Corporal Friday Francis, an operative of the State Intelligence Service (SIS)
“His death occurred within the vicinity of the council secretariat, heightening fears over the security situation in the area”, the report said.
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Security is said to have been beefed up in the area and are currently conducting investigations.
Since last week Friday attack of the Sole Administrator of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Goodluck Ihemnachor by hoodlums said to be irate youths of the area, that axis has remained volatile.
Several unconfirmed allegations were leveled against the embattled administrator by some of the actors implicated in the attack, where they forced the administrator to sign a resignation letter.
In one hand, the administrator was accused of fraternizing with members of the Simplified Movement which are loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while he was supposed to embrace members of the Grassroots Development Initiative, loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
On another hand, he was accused of graft and embezzlement of council funds and not supporting security agencies in their line of duty in the area.
The state police command had invited the chief security officer of the Ahoada East Local Government Council and the chief of staff to the embattled Administrator for questioning in connection to the attack of the administrator.
While police was waiting for the suspects to honour the summon, the Monday night attack happened.
Meanwhile,the state police command has condemned the brutal attack carried out in the area by suspected cultists on Monday, June 23, 2025, at about 8:00 pm.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, by spokesperson of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, armed assailants, led by two men, Umegbewe Kingsley a.k.a. ‘Gutam’ and one Opaka (surname unknown), believed to be leaders of the Iceland cult group, stormed the OSPAC office beside the Ahoada East Council secretariat and opened fire on its operatives.
The statement said during the assault, OSPAC operative, Ngozi Ipah was shot.
It said while escaping, that the assailants also gunned down a police officer, Corporal Francis Friday, who was on special duty at the secretariat with the Special Intervention Squad (SIS).
According to the statement, in a swift response, a police patrol teams led by the divisional police officer arrived at the scene, but the attackers had already fled.
“Both victims were rushed to the Ahoada General Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds but were pronounced dead on arrival. Their bodies have been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.
“Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has visited the scene and deployed tactical teams to the area.
He directed the area commander to intensify efforts to track down and arrest the perpetrators, vowing that the killers of the police officer and the OSPAC operative will not escape justice.
