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Gunmen Kill Mgbuoshimini Chief …Police Nab Three Suspects
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
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.