A socio-cultural group, Ogoni Ethnic Nationality (OEN), has declared all those linked to the controversial operation of the Rivers State Command of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) to the Bori Collation Center led by the State Commander, Akin Fakorede, where Ogoni intellectual, Dr. Ferry Gbaragbe, was shot and killed during the botched March 9, 2019 governorship election persona-non-grata.

Among those so declared, according to a statement signed by OEN’s Secretary, Dr. Baribe Yorko, are former Rivers State governor and Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; Emma Deeyah, Victor Giadom, George Feyii, Greg Nwidam and Eric Nwibani, amongst others.

OEN, in the statement issued in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, after an emergency meeting on Wednesday, described the murder of Gbaragbe as outrageous, sacrilegious and a desecration of the land.

The group expressed anger over the killing of Dr. Gbaragbe, a senior lecturer and former Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic (Kenpoly), Bori branch.

OEN called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and other relevant security agencies not to leave any stone unturned to arrest and prosecute the culprits and their collaborators in Ogoniland.

OEN in the statement vowed to “invoke the gods of Ogoniland to avenge the death of Gbaragbe and other Ogonis who lost their lives during the elections.”

Wondering why “an illustrious son of Ogoniland who was carrying out a legitimate election duty should be the target of elimination by enemies of the people,” the group vowed that all those declared persona-non-grata would be visited with dire consequences any day they step their feet on Ogoniland.

“They should better be advised to stay away from Ogoniland,” the statement said.

On the statement credited to Dr. Chidi Lloyd, a chieftain of the All progressives Congress (APC), that the death of Dr. Ferry Gbaragbe was an ‘amateur Nollywood movie’, OEN described the comment as the height of a sacrilege, regretting it was not surprised knowing Chidi Lloyd’s antecedent and disregard for human life.

“It is quite unfortunate that Chidi Lloyd rather than empathise with Ogonis who are mourning with a heavy heart, he decided to dance on the grave of the man slain by SARS and his party men,” the statement said.

Update news