A 56-year-old man, Mr Nnabuihe Aburi Edi has been killed by suspected gunmen in Abarikpo community in Ahoada-East LGA of Rivers State. Edi was allegedly murdered Tuesday, around 4am in his family compound.

The deceased who is from the Dickson’s family in Abarikpo was allegedly gunned down for purportedly opposing the choice of who becomes the next paramount ruler of the Akoh Clan. “He was dragged out of his house by his killers, who are well known and shot him”, News Express source said. “The killers are form the same community, and were joined by other criminals from outside the community. They dragged him out of his house and shot him many times and he died on the spot”, the source continued.

It was gathered that days before the deceased (Mr Aburi) was murdered, he spoke up against an “illegal levy imposed by the community chief on constituent families (Ogbodo) that make up the community”. It was further gathered that the suspected killers are issuing threats in the community against any perceived opposition or faction.

News Express reports that cult groups have been terrorising the community for a long time. The youth leader, Mr Matthew Ebenezar Otuza was gruesomely murdered by a cult group allegedly loyal to the paramount ruler, about two years ago. The community has expressed worry over the silence of the paramount ruler, His Royal Majesty, Chief Cassidy Ikegbidhi, Eze Igbu Akoh2, from the Ihubogo community on the death of the youth leader.

It was learnt that the killing of Edi apart from heightening tension has raised fears and causing scores to flee the community for their safety.

According to the source, “The killers are known to be cult group loyal to the Chief of the Community, Chief.... and by extension, equally loyal to the paramount ruler of Ekpeye ethnic nationality, in Ahoada-East LGA, Rivers State”.

Said the source, “The killing of Mr Aburi is the most recent among many that have been perpetrated in the community within the space of three months. I can authoritatively tell you that the community is deserted because there is palpable fear of these killers group, and the few remaining persons are living in an atmosphere of intimidation, fear and hopelessness, because nobody knows who will be the next person to be killed. Unfortunately, these killings are going on and nobody is talking.

“Meanwhile the killers have been dishing out further threats against the people. One of the gunmen said he has a list of persons that would be killed, and he is implementing it, by killing one person after the other, and nobody is saying anything, not even the Community chief. As a leader of the community, is it not his responsibility to liaise with the security agencies to get the killers apprehended? Each killing goes with celebration in his camp. He definitely should be investigated by relevant authorities”.

Continues the source, “the rotation of the Chieftaincy position in the community had always been by consensus and for a life time, before another appointment would be made. However, in recent times, this has changed and it has been done via election, and tenured. It was agreed that each would serve a single term of five years in office. And after which another election would be conducted. And also this position rotates between the Uchi extended family, and the Ibagwa. These are the two factions that make up the community.

“At the onset of the whole issue, with the consent of the Ahoada-East Local Government Chairman, an election witnessed by the Nigerian Police Force, Ahoada Police division was conducted, and Mr Eke Fyneboy emerged the democratically elected Chief of the community. However, the man who is now parading himself as the Chief knowing that the other candidate was more popular refused to participate in the election, and consequently connived with the terror group to take over power with threat to the life of the legitimate Chief who peacefully surrendered power to him.

The unfortunate thing is that even after grabbing power through the back door, the wicked and heartless man started the systematic killing of persons perceived to be in the opposition. The situation here is that the person who did not contest election is unlawfully presiding over the democratically elected person”.

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