…Accuse Lewe of Responsibility
…Appeal For Urgent Govt Intervention To Avert Full-Blown Crisis
There appears to be no end to the violent communal crisis between the two Ogoni communities, Bomu and Lewe, all in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The current trouble is sequel to the gruesome murder of the trio of Viura Delenyielo, Tuanu Victor Bariduanem and Kanikpo Lucky, all from Bomu Community last week.
While Viura Delenyielo and Tuanu Victor Bariduanem were reportedly killed on April 6, 2021, the third victim, Kanikpo Lucky was brought down on Wednesday, April 9.
Alleging that the unprovoked dastardly killing of the three Bomu youngsters had the endorsement of the leaders of Lewe community, the Bomu community said they had always kept their own part of the bargain of the April 11, 2020 peace accord and oath-taking administered on the two communities by the police authorities in Gokana and the Gbenemene Gokana following the communal crisis between the two communities since 2016.
An unofficial source said the recent attack and killing of the Bomu youths was prompted by one Dornubari Bagbi who invited the police to arrest a group of Bomu youths who were lumbering in a forest in Bomu land which he claimed belongs to him.
The source further said after the police had visited the scene where the wood was being sawn and arrested some of the boys and left, two of them who escaped arrest, while on their way out of the forest were attacked by their killers suspected to be Lewe youths.
Three days later, the third victim, Kanikpo Lucky, a motorcyclist (Okada) was reportedly waylaid on his way, killed and his motorcycle carried away.
Mr. Bagbi who allegedly invited the police for the arrest of the ‘Lumber men’ is said to have been arrested by the police and detained alongside those arrested at his instance.
The Bomu community also alleged sporadic shootings and burning of buildings in their community since then which according to them have left scores of people homeless.
They are therefore calling for the immediate intervention by government and security agencies, preferably setting up a security post at border between the two communities to stop the situation from deteriorating into full blown war.
They also want a possible resettlement of the hundreds of displaced families to avoid further loss of lives to danger and hunger.
