ONC Condemns Alleged Attack On Three Obedum Indigenes, Calls For Investigation

In the statement, ONC said it “joins the good people of Obedum Community to condemn the alleged brutal attack on three Obedum indigenes that led to almost loss of two lives”.

The organization described the incident as an alleged “heinous, barbaric, and unprovoked attack on three innocent Obedum indigenes, who were reportedly assaulted with machete and other weapons while carrying out their lawful timber business in the Edummarugbo forest, a bush area belonging to Obedum community.

According to information made available in the statement, the victims — Mr. Charlie Itoyio, Mr. Igoni Geoffrey, and Mr. Itode Imiete Tenegheni — were engaged in timber operations when they allegedly discovered that some processed wood had been removed.

The statement said: “Following efforts to trace the missing timber, they reportedly identified its location and returned to continue their work. It was during the work process that they were allegedly attacked by a group of people allegedly from Odau Community”.

The ONC stated that the victims further alleged the assailants were a group of about fifteen youths from Odau community, including three individuals identified, and twelve others whose identities are yet to be fully established.

“We view this alleged act as a gross violation of human rights and an affront to peace, justice, and the longstanding coexistence between neighbouring communities. Such acts of violence, intimidation, and lawlessness have no place in any civilized society and must not be tolerated and it capable of instigating inter communal war,” ONC said in the statement.

The organization therefore, called on the relevant security agencies, Odual kingdom and Abua Odual LGA to conduct a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into this incident. Those found responsible should be brought to justice in accordance with the law.

ONC also urged authorities to take immediate steps to prevent any further escalation and to safeguard the lives and property of innocent citizens.

The statement added: “While we call on the Community to remain committed to peace and the rule of law, we will continue to demand justice for our people and insist that criminal acts, regardless of who is involved, are addressed decisively, no one should take law into his or her hands on this matter as we trust the security agencies living to expectations”.

Obedum and Odau are communities in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Orashi National Congress (ONC) is a socio-cultural organization representing communities in the Orashi region of the Niger Delta.