The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) to the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni says it has arrested three persons in connection with the killing of a community chief in Mgbuoshimini, Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The PPRO, who stated this last Saturday in an interview with The Tide said that the three suspects are now in police custody for further investigations and interrogations about the killing of the Council Chief, Miniokwu Nsirim Ovu Chukwu in Rumueme.
An eyewitness and a close relative, Christian Chukwu said: “Miniokwu was shot at a very close range by four gunmen, shortly after emerging from his house in preparation to attend a community meeting.”
Chukwu reported that in the cause of the attack on the council Chief, two innocent people sustained gun shut injuries and were rushed to the hospital where they later died, adding that the gunmen fled the scene before the arrival of the police.
His words: “They came and as they saw Chief Miniokwu, they brought out their AK47 guns and started shooting him, while two innocent ones sustained injuries, but later died in the evening of that same day.
Chief Miniokwu tried to escape, but they chased him and he fell down and then they used their guns to hit him in the head and stomach with about five gun shot injuries on his body, one at the chest, ear, hand, head and stomach, adding that they ensured he was dead before leaving him
Although there has been some issues emanating from the land occupied by Motor Mechanic people between him and some members of these two communities, Oro-Akor and Orowor all in Rumueme kingdom, who are the owners of this land as they both agreed that each community would share 50 per cent of the sale made for peace to reign in the community,” Chukwu added.
On her part, the wife of the deceased, Mrs Comfort Chukwu, family members and community chiefs are demanding for justice, while some residents have taken to their heels and the community is deserted now due to fear of insecurity.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of a group known as the Rivers New Vision (RNV), Chizy Mwor has also condemned the assassination of Chief Miniokwu and has called on the security agencies to swing into action and bring the perpetrators of such a dastardly act to book, while also adding that the few members left in the community now live in fear.
He said: “I am calling on the security agencies, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the State Police Command over the incident that took place in Mgbuoshimini in Oro-Akor community that led to the killing of Chief Miniokwu, who was gunned down by some unknown gunmen, which is causing serious panic and tension now in the community to look into the issue and do the needful to return normalcy to the communities,” Mwor added.
In a bid to restore peace and order to these communities, the combined men of the Rivers State Police Command and SARS as well as soldiers have been deployed to Mgbuoshimini community.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana