9th October, 2017
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Following the dastardly killing of 15 persons in Mgboshimili-Rumueme in Obio-Akpor local government area, a suburb of Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Monday, the state police command has declared eight suspects wanted.
The state Commissioner of Police Zaki Ahmed, confirmed that some persons have been apprehended and anti-riot policemen and detectives deployed to the community to investigate the incident.
Witnesses revealed that some workers of a dredging company owned by a prominent paramount ruler in Rumueme were among those killed while the house where 12 persons were killed was also owned by the paramount ruler.
Weeping relations of the victims lament the state they suddenly found themselves during a visit to the area.
A woman said: “I was called that my brother was one of those killed and burnt inside the house they were living. My brother and I were together in church on Sunday little did I know that he would be shot and his body among those burnt”.
On his part, Mr.Livingstone Wechie, Executive Director Integrity Group and human rights activist in his facebook post lamented the continuous bloodletting in the community.
In his facebook post titled:”Save Rivers Community from Bloodletting, he recalled the previous deaths. “Chief Minikwu Chukwu who was Secretary of Rumueme Council of Chiefs and Mr. Optimist Jaja were both shot dead while the community was gathering for a routine meeting on May 6 2017 by 7a.m. in Mgbuosimini Community Mile 4 Rumueme where Nigerian Agip Oil Company Operational HQ is situated. Mr. Baridule Cletus Dunle was shot dead on 30th July 2017. Godspowwer Aligbo and Dickson Gogo jaja were shot on 4th of Oct 2017, Mr. Nasuru, junior and 13 others shot dead today in their houses by 3a.m., one person burnt beyond recognition. Another building was burnt with persons inside.”
According to Wechie: “I believe all lives matter. This is one community among others in Rivers state subjected to to these types of tortuous attacks . Government and all relevant security agencies must wake up and take lives seriously. We can’t get used to mass killings of our people in Rivers state continuously”.
He warned if nothing is done, other communities may be enlisted and killers will be emboldened and it is failure on the part of government and its relevant agencies if its citizens continue to lose state protection.