Unknown gunmen on Saturday night attacked the office of the local vigilante group, known as OSPAC, in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council of Rivers State, leaving one operative with a bullet wound.

The incident occurred at about 8:10 p.m. at the OSPAC headquarters located on Erema Street in Omoku.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants, who arrived in an ash-coloured Lexus Jeep alongside another vehicle, opened sporadic gunfire on the facility, causing panic in the area as residents and passers-by fled for safety.

Speaking in a telephone interview, the Public Relations Officer of OSPAC in Rivers State, Mr Godknows Nkem, confirmed the attack, saying the group’s guards eventually repelled the gunmen.

According to him, the vigilante office operates as an open centre where residents freely report security concerns and seek assistance.

He said: “At that hour of the day, the gunmen drove in and started shooting sporadically. Nobody died but one of our personnel sustained a bullet injury to his ankle. Our station guards later repelled the attack.”

Nkem described OSPAC as a strong security force within the area, insisting that the group remained committed to maintaining peace and security in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council.

“OSPAC has been known by its name. The fear of OSPAC is the beginning of wisdom in the entire ONELGA,” he stated.

He, however, lamented the poor welfare situation facing members of the vigilante outfit, alleging that the group had not received adequate support in recent months.

“For the past eight months that this administration came on board, our welfare has not been catered for. We have been struggling to survive,” he added.

The OSPAC spokesman urged residents “to be law-abiding and go about their normal business. The God of grace and power of OSPAC is on top of the matter. Nobody should be scared. The perpetrators will meet their doom.”

Confirming the incident, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, stated that investigations had commenced to identify and arrest those responsible for the shooting.