Chinemerem Orji, a Rivers State-based painter, was stabbed and shot dead by two operatives of a local vigilante outfit, ONELGA Security, Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) on the morning of May 22 when he rejected a counterfeit naira note given to him by Uche Nnamani, a Point of Sale (POS) agent at Umebele One Oyigbo New Camp area of the state.

His sister, Praise Orji, told FIJ that trouble started when Chinemerem rejected a fake N1000 note and despite interventions by persons at the scene, the POS agent refused to change the money, instead calleding in OSPAC operatives identified as Acho and Ekwe.

“When they came, they wanted to take him with them but he refused, maintaining that he did not commit any crime. Then suddenly, one of them, Acho, brought out a dagger and stabbed him. Ekwe shot him dead,” Praise said.

“I went with my mum and my brother’s girlfriend to OSPAC’s office but they refused to release his corpse to us. They threatened to shoot us when we told them we would not go until we got his corpse. My mum said they should kill her like they killed her son.

“When they shot at the ground to prove that the gun was not a toy and that it has bullet, we all ran. I injured my leg and my phone got spoilt. There were witnesses there.”

Chinemerem, 22, was trained to paint houses by his father who died last year. He since became the bread winner for the family until his death.

“They have been taken to the State CID, but the head of the CID said he received the case the day we came and they would need to investigate the matter. He promised that on Monday, policemen would accompany us to go and see the corpse,” she continued.

“We just moved to this area, but we heard that the OSPAC guys had been doing this to people. Especially that Ekwe. This is why I want justice because if they are not stopped, they will continue to do this to people.”

Omoni Nnamdi, the public relations officer of the Rivers State Police Command, said that three people had been arrested in connection to the case and investigations had commenced.