A holidaying soldier Collins Worehu has been allegedly killed by a member of a local vigilance group, Onelga Security Peace and Advisory Committee, in Obele community, in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Worehu, was serving in Niger State, when he visited his home town after he obtained permission from the Army.
A former caretaker chairman, Obele Community Development Committee, Israel Anele, said Worehu was returning home from an outing around 10pm when he was shot.
He said trouble started when the soldier saw some of his relatives in the custody of the vigilantes and alighted from his vehicle to know why they were being held.
According to him, an argument ensued in the process and one of the vigilantes said he was interfering in their duty and ordered him to lie down.
He said when Worehu refused, the vigilante brought out a gun and killed the soldier.
Anele stated, “The military man, who was serving in Niger State, was returning to his residence at Elele around 10pm with his friend, a warder of the Nigeria Correctional Service.
“They got to a point along Elele-Obelle Road where the OSPAC people held some of his relatives. So, he intervened and asked them to free his relatives.
“The OSPAC people got angry and asked why he was interfering. He said as an Army officer he could not see his brothers in that situation without stopping to know what the issue was.
“Then the OSPAC people asked him to leave the place or that they were going to shoot him. He asked why they would do such a thing. There was a little argument and the OSPAC members asked him to lie down. He asked what he did and why he would be asked to lie down.
The acting spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed said three suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime.
She said “investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal and Investigation Department.”
