The Paramount Ruler of Woji Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Emeka Ihunwo, has stated that the community did not ask people of Ogoni Ethnic Nationality in the Town to leave in response to the involvement of an Ogoni son in the death of a youth of Woji Town.
Woji Town had been in turmoil for about a week following the death of a youth of the community, Kenneth Eke, last week Thursday when his tenant, an Ogoni man, reported him to the police over a disagreement and the police subsequently beat him to death.
Eze Ihunwo made the clarification on Wednesday when a 15-man delegation of Ogoni leaders, led by the acting Chairman of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers of Ogoni, Mene Suanu Baridam, Gbenemene and Kasimene VII of Bangha Kingdom, paid him a condolence visit at Eze Woji Palace, Woji Town.
He recounted the events that led to the death of the youth in the hands of the police following the report of the tenant, insisting that ordinarily a person that takes a matter to the police did not do a wrong thing, if not for the tragic way the matter had ended.
He stated that Kenneth Eke died after being manhandled by some police officers who were invited by one of his tenants, who happened to be a native of Ogoni, to arrest him (Eke) for evicting him from his house over a rent dispute.
The death of Eke sparked unrest among community youths as they took to the streets and set up road blocks in protest against the incident.
He however announced that the community leadership and law enforcement agencies have brought the situation under control and people are going about their lawful businesses without any form of hindrance.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Woji Community has not asked Ogoni people, or indeed any other ethnic nationality, to leave. We have not done that, and will never do so. We are a peace-loving and hospitable community and will never ask anybody or ethnic group to leave our community. Incidentally, while we mourn the painful and untimely death of our son, the culprits are in police custody. We only ask that the law should take its course. We want to see that justice is done,” the Woji monarch said.
Nyenwe-Eli Woji, on behalf of the people, thanked the Ogoni delegation for their visit and concern over the death of the youth, and assured them of the safety of Ogonis and other residents of the community.
Earlier in his speech, King Baridam said the delegation had come to commiserate with the community on the death of their son and pleaded with Paramount Ruler to ensure peace in the community and that Ogonis and other residents of Woji are safe and secured while investigations on the matter by the appropriate authorities are on.
He said the call had become necessary because of rumours that the community had asked Ogonis to leave the community because of the incident.
Members of the delegation included the Mene-Bua-Sogho, Mene Frank Nule Nam; President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Prince Biira; former Director of Finance and Accounts, NDDC, Chief Derek Mene; Hon. Clifford Bere; Hon. Neka Sam; former spokesman of MOSOP, Hon. Bariala Kpalap; Dr. Samuel Akpekon, and Pastor Lah Zekhue, among others.