Panic gripped Omoku town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State when gunmen stormed the head office of a local security outfit, the Onelga Security and Peace Advisory Committee, OSPAC, and opened fire, leaving one operative injured.

The attack took place at the OSPAC base on Erema Street, a busy part of Omoku where residents routinely visit the outfit to lodge complaints ranging from theft to communal disputes. Witnesses said the gunmen arrived in two vehicles, including an ash-coloured Lexus sport utility vehicle, and began shooting indiscriminately, sending residents and passersby running for cover.

Shops reportedly shut abruptly as traders and commuters fled in different directions. Some residents hid inside nearby houses and business premises until the shooting subsided. The sudden burst of gunfire, according to locals, shattered a relatively calm evening and raised fresh fears about security in the oil-rich but volatile area.

OSPAC’s Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, Godknows Nkem, confirmed that one operative sustained a bullet wound to the ankle during the assault. He said the attackers drove straight into the premises and opened fire without warning, but were eventually repelled by station guards who returned fire and forced them to retreat.

Nkem described the OSPAC office as a community hub where people seek help on security matters, expressing concern that such a facility could be targeted. He noted that the outfit has built a reputation for confronting criminal gangs in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and beyond, and suggested that its firm stance against crime may have made it a target.

He also hinted at internal challenges, disclosing that personnel have been operating under difficult conditions, with welfare issues unresolved for months, even as they continue to confront armed threats.

Despite the attack, Nkem urged residents to remain calm, obey the law and continue their normal activities, assuring them that OSPAC would work with conventional security agencies to track down those behind the assault.

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident. Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said detectives had begun investigations to identify and apprehend the gunmen. She noted that no arrests had been made yet, but pledged that the perpetrators would be brought to justice once their identities are established.