Three traditional rulers in Umuiheuze 1 Clan in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State have been suspended for alleged chieftaincy, custom and traditional breaches.

Consequently, the Umuiheuze 1 Clan Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs has imposed sanctions against the three chiefs in line with its customary laws, and as a deterrent to forestall further breaches by any member of the council.

Those suspended include the paramount ruler of Obunku Ndoki community, Dr. Greg Chigemecha; paramount ruler of Umunwachukwu, Chief Monday Nwachukwu, and Chief Kingsley Douglas of Mgboji Community.

In a statement dated September 25, 2026, and signed by Onye Nweala and Paramount Ruler of Umuosi Ndoki and Chairman of the Umuiheuze 1 Clan Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Oscar Friday C. Deigh,   alongside the Onye Nweala XIII of Egberu Ndoki Kingdom, HRH Eze Extreme Boniface Akawor,  the council alleged that Chief Chigemecha had breached the traditional oath binding members of the institution.

The council alleged that the chief, in his quest to install himself as the paramount ruler (Onye’nweala) of Obunku Ndoki Community, had acted contrary to the established customs and traditions of the Umuiheuze 1 Clan.

According to the statement, the council, after examining the matter and being guided by its customary laws and traditions, resolved to impose a number of sanctions on the chief.

One of the resolutions declared the purported coronation of the chief as Paramount Ruler of Obunku Ndoki Community on September 4, 2026, as non-existent before the Umuiheuze 1 Clan Council of Traditional Rulers.

The council alleged that the coronation was carried out by persons who were not traditionally empowered to conduct such an exercise and without the knowledge, approval or participation of the Umuiheuze 1 Clan Council of Traditional Rulers.

It further stated that, until the affected chief purges himself of what is described as the traditional rascality, the council had cancelled and withdrawn his certificate or staff of office as compound chief of the Umunwankwo compound in Obunku Ndoki Community.

The council also resolved that the chief would no longer be permitted to participate in its meetings, and directed him to desist from parading, addressing or purporting to perform functions associated with a chief or the paramount ruler of Obunku Ndoki Community.

The traditional rulers warned that the council would work closely with relevant government, security and traditional authorities to monitor compliance with the sanctions.

They said the decision was necessary because the Umuiheuze 1 Clan Council of Traditional Rulers, as custodians of the culture, customs and traditions of the people, would not stand by while the clan and Obunku Ndoki Community were subjected to actions capable of causing serious disruption to the traditional institution.

The council ended the statement with the appeal: “Let wise counsel prevail.”

Responding on behalf of the suspended chiefs, Dr. Chigemecha said that he was duly coronated in accordance with the rules of the traditional institution of the clan, and expressed surprise over their alleged suspension.

Akujobi Amadi

The Obuama Community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers says the September 7, 2026, press statement issued by Udekama (Degema) people is misleading and distorted as regards the historical facts relating to the land ownership between the Obama and Usokun communities in the area.

This was contained in a paper presented at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday.

The paper was signed by Chairman and Secretary of the Community Development Community, Prof. Sakeini A. Idoniboye. -Obu, and Sir Harvest Daobu Harry, respectively, and three others.

The paper reiterated the assertions given by the Usokun community concerning the history of ownership of the disputed Obupiri land.

It said the portions of the Udekama statement was characterized with falsehood, misrepresentation of facts and the history of litigation between the communities.

According to Prof. Obu, the Obiama community was compelled to respond to the falsehood with the view to keep the record straight regarding the history of the land dispute and a series of court proceedings back in 1935.

“Obuama, also known as Harry’s Town, is a Kalabari community in the Degema Local Government Area that shares a common boundary with Usokun, which it described as part of the Udekama (Degema) people.

“We totally debunk the claim that the Usokun people allotted the Obupiri land to an ancestor of Obuama in 1883. We maintained this position since the first recorded boundary dispute in 1935, but it had been King Amachree IV who gave the land to its ancestor, the late Chief Idoniboye-Obu,” the statement said.

In the same vein, Obama cited Kalabari Native Court Suit No. 23/35, instituted by the Usokun people in 1935, against Obama for trespass and damages, but the Usokun community lost the case as the first recorded action in the dispute.

“The  suit that involved claims for damages for trespass and an injunction against Obuama, the Usokun lost the case,” he said.

Obuama community claimed efforts to resolve the boundary dispute subsequently led to Suit No. 164/38, instituted before the Kalabari Native Court in 1938.

“And again the judgment was delivered in favor of Obuama, and the court fixed the boundary between Obuama and Usokun, and no appeal was filed against the  ruling in Suit No. 164/38”, the community said.

They further cited the 1925 Supreme Court judgment in Will Amachree v. Orku, Goldwatch and Senabor, alongside other court proceedings, in presenting its position on the historical relationship between the Kalabaris. people and Udekama communities.

Obuama community called on the Usokun community to obey existing court rulings and urged all parties to pursue the longstanding dispute through lawful, peaceful, and constructive means instead of resorting to violence.

The Rivers State Government has ordered the immediate relocation of students and staff of Community Secondary School, Rumuapara, to State Primary School, Nkpolo, both in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, following severe flooding of the school premises.

In a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor and made available to The Tide, the relocation order took effect from yesterday.

According to Nwagor, the temporary measure was necessary to safeguard the lives, safety and overall well-being of students and staff who have been affected by the flooding.

He explained that the school premises had been taken over by floodwater, making it unsafe for academic activities and necessitating the immediate movement of the school community to a safer location.

The Commissioner recalled that a team from the Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee had earlier visited the school to assess the extent of the flooding and determine the appropriate response.

He said the committee was currently working to identify the causes of the flooding and develop a lasting solution to the problem.

He added that measures were being considered for immediate, medium and long-term flood prevention and management in the affected area.

Nwagor reafirmed the State Government’s commitment to protecting the safety and welfare of students while ensuring that the flooding does not result in prolonged disruption to their education.

He assured that the temporary relocation would enable teaching and learning to continue in a safer environment while efforts are made to address the flooding challenge at the affected school.

The Commissioner urged students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders to cooperate with the temporary arrangement as authorities work towards finding a permanent solution to the problem.