The residents alleged that the vigilante group was conniving with some police officers to harass, intimidate, and arrest innocent members of the community who were perceived as enemies.

Speaking under the aegis of Fubi Political Associates, a member of the community, Dimkpa Jaja, disclosed this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Jaja said the disbanded local security outfit led by Ndidi Eke, if not checked, was capable of throwing the community into another round of crisis.

He recalled that the Emuoha local government chairman, Chidi Lloyd, on the assumption of office, had disbanded all vigilante groups in the area following reports of criminality and human rights abuse.

He, however, expressed dismay that the ISPAC operatives were still operating and carrying out unlawful arrest and intimidation.

Jaja said, “On Sunday 27th November 2021 as at 15:30hrs while we were celebrating the age-grade induction in Ibaa community, the serving police divisional police officer in Rumuji and his Divisional Crime Officer in the company of few policemen and members of the disbanded ISPAC security in Ibaa community led by one Ndidi Eke stormed the compound of chief Fubara Ohaka in Ibaa to unlawfully whisk him away with the claims of order from the Rivers State Commissioner of Police without an investigation letter or warrant of arrest.

“Mr. Ndubusi Nlerum, a transporter who hails from Ibaa, and his son, Chinonye Nlerum, were whisked away by the same dreaded disbanded members of ISPAC.

“On inquiry from the state police command, we discovered that the Commissioner of Police was not aware of the said arrest. Several complaints were made to the division, but no arrest has been carried out till date.”

Jaja appealed to the state police commissioner to investigate the activities of his men in Emuoha in order to restore the people’s confidence in the police as citizens of the state.

When contacted, the ISPAC leader, Ndidi Eke dismissed the allegations, saying those that went to the media were the ones causing problems in Ibaa community.

“Those are all lies. They are agents of Ohaka who are using crisis to make money in the community. They are saying those things to indict me or indict the police because they know we are doing a good job to maintain peace in Ibaa community,” Eke stated.

Spokesman of the state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, while responding to our correspondent said he was yet to get the report.