Residents of Ipo community in Ikwerre Local Council of Rivers State are gripped by fear following renewed insecurity and the reported abduction of a local vigilante leader by suspected herders.

Ipo, which hosts the Port Harcourt International Airport, shares boundaries with Igwuruta, Omademe, Ozuoha and parts of Etche Local Council.

Findings indicate heightened security presence in the area, with at least three police patrol vehicles stationed at strategic locations.

Chairman of the local vigilante outfit, Baron Walechi, said tension escalated last Thursday after a woman was reportedly abducted, prompting a response from local security operatives.

According to him, the operatives encountered a large group of armed men suspected to be insurgents in a nearby bush, leading to a gun battle.

“In the process, the commander of the Ipo vigilante group, Collins Ohahurun, was shot and abducted after the local security outfit was overpowered by the armed men,” he said.

Walechi added that a joint operation involving security agencies on Sunday raided the area, leading to the recovery of weapons, including one believed to belong to the abducted commander.

He warned that the community remains unsafe and called for sustained security presence to prevent further attacks.

Also speaking, the elder brother of the abducted commander, Clifford Ohahurun, said the incident has left the family traumatised.

“We have not heard from him or his abductors since the incident. His wife and children are devastated,” he said.

Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in Ipo, Kingsley Wali, alongside some women in the community, said the situation has disrupted economic activities, as farmers now avoid their farms for fear of attack.

Meanwhile, security forces have launched coordinated raids on suspected criminal camps in the area following the abduction, which has caused panic across the state.

The joint operation involves the Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Sources said the violence began on April 10, when farmers reportedly encountered armed men in the bush and raised the alarm, prompting vigilantes to mobilise.

The attackers reportedly opened fire on the vigilante team and overpowered them.

Confirming the operation, the Rivers State Police Command said operatives raided criminal hideouts in Ipo and Igwuruta camps.

Items recovered include an AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, 274 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, four cartridges, communication radios, locally made protective materials and an iron cutter.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Olugbenga Adepoju, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging the public to provide credible information to support ongoing operations.

According to the command, preliminary findings suggest that the recovered pump-action gun may belong to the abducted vigilante leader.

“The criminal camps were successfully destroyed. One suspect was arrested, while others fled before the arrival of operatives. Investigation is ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects and rescue the victim,” the police said.

Community sources, however, said suspected armed groups remain active within forest corridors linking Ipo, Igwuruta, Omademe, Omagwa and Elele, calling for sustained raids and government intervention.

They added that if urgent action is not taken, residents may resort to occupying the Port Harcourt International Airport for safety.