By: Felix Ikpotor
The lawmaker representing Khana Con¬stituency II, in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Friday Nke-ee has expressed discomfort over the killings in Ogoni communities, saying that the killing in the area is most pathetic.
He said the activities of cult groups in his community have brought suffering, fear and insecurity in the area.
It would be recalled that on March 1, 2017, Okwale community in Khana Local Government Area of the state was attacked by suspected cult group that claimed lives and razed build¬ings.
Pained by the killings which has affected other areas of Ogoniland, Nke-ee, who is also a victim of the attack, lamented the killings and destruction of properties and called on the faceless group to cease fire for the wellbeing and develop¬ment of Ogoniland.
Narrating his ordeal, Hon Nke-ee disclosed that his family house was destroyed by the faceless armed groups, adding that the attack in his Okwale community was cult related, but wonders why the government and security au¬thorities have not done any¬thing to save them from further attacks.
He lamented thus:“Few weeks ago, precisely on March 1, my country home, my tradi¬tional home, my family house was dynamite and it collapsed right to foundation. So to say, am homeless now because that is the home that all of my family members are stay¬ing. A building with eighteen rooms set ablaze and the sur¬prising thing is that we are not at war with any group of peo¬ple. Is not an inter-tribal war, so is worrisome?
“So, because we are not at war with any group of per¬sons, we are yet to discover the reason for this insecu¬rity. The thing has graduated to the extent that they move from one community to the other.
“It is not just destruction of houses and properties but human lives have also gone down. Youths that would be useful to society and them¬selves tomorrow have been killed in their numbers. And one wonders if there will still be a future if they continue with the killings.
“This manifestation is cult related activities based on the information available to me. You know, cultism has be¬come a faction among young¬er people now. Is either you belong or they intimidate you.
“We have made complains and written officially to the police authorities. Each time we make complain to them they will come, suppressed it but no arrest has been made criminals diversify their at¬tack from one community to the other. And most time you call on the police they com-plain of logistics and man¬power.”
The lawmaker further dis¬closed that since the incident started in his community they have lost over 30 live s.
“Khana constitu¬ency II, where I represent we do not have any war but rather what we are having is like a gorilla war within the place. Because you are not at war with any stranger or neigh¬bouring communities, it is difficult to ascertain the cause of the war.
“In my own Okwale com¬munity in Khana LGA, over 30 lives have been lost since the problem started from 2013. It is very unfortunate and sadden and barbaric for man to be so inhuman to his own nature. Criminality is not a culture in Ogoni land, is an imported culture. Violence that has come into Ogoni and because is a strange culture, it has eaten so deep.”
He charged youths of the area to shun violence and embrace peace, calling on the Federal government, state govern¬ment and other stakeholders to come to the aid of Khana people, saying that they can¬not be sent packing through violence.
