Rivers bloodbath: My husband, kids brought out of house, shot dead

The horror of the New Year’s Day killings in Omoku, Rivers State was relived yesterday.

A woman, Prophetess Comfort Ordu, recounted how her husband and three children were shot to death. She said the gunmen invited them out of their home and shot them.

Governor Nyesom Wike, during a visit to the community, was told that 17 people were killed by the gunmen.

Caretaker Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, where Omoku is located,  Mr. Osi Olisa, received the governor and his delegation. He confirmed the number of the dead as 17.

The names of some of those murdered were given as: Favour Odili, Saviour Amirinze, Augustine Ordu, Precious Ordu, Wisdom Ordu, Jennifer Ohia, Innocent Ohia, Reuben Idogu, Baby Idogu, Ngozi Ogbuanukwu, Oyi Ogadinma, Nwagaego Ogadinma and Uche Onige.

With the governor were Brig.-Gen. A.A Bande; Col. M.N Madi; Deputy Police Commissioner Ahmed Magaji, and Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General Mr. Tosin Ajayi.

Wike said anybody connected to the killings would have his property forfeited to the government.

Wike announced N200 million reward for information that could lead to the arrest of the killers.

The governor led the State Security Council on a fact-finding/sympathy visit to the families of the victims of the Omoku massacre.

He also visited the injured in the hospital as well as the home of a former militant leader. He visited  the scene of the crime, where he received briefings from Police Area Commander Mike Nwafor  and the home of wanted cultist, Mr. Igwedibia Johnson, aka Don Waney, where he (the governor) lauded the security agencies for working hard to improve security.

“We have placed a N200 million bounty for relevant information  that will lead to the arrest of all those involved in the unfortunate act of violence.

“Anybody who is connected to the crime in any way will have his/her houses forfeited to the government. This place (Omoku) has been peaceful before this unfortunate mayhem.

“We will not allow another case of this violence. We have mobilised the security agencies to take the battle to the perpetrators.”

Wike also insisted that all the persons linked to the Omoku violence would face the law.

He said: “You cannot shed innocent blood and go free. We are working with all the security agencies to do everything  possible to arrest the perpetrators. They must pay for this.”

The governor also commiserated with the families of the deceased. He said the government would support them in burying their loved ones, promising that his administration would settle the medical bills of the injured.

Wike said: “I am pained by this unfortunate mayhem. Enough is enough.”

Abe, who is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), yesterday in a press statement by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, also condoled with the families of the victims, the Orashi region and the entire people of the state.

He is worried  over the resurfacing of violent crimes in Omoku and its environs. He urged the government to assist security agencies with the tools to tackle the state’s challenges.

The senator said: “The killings in Omoku are an indication that all is not well with the security network of the state. The Rivers government should assist security agencies with the needed tools to tackle the rising state of insecurity.

“The incident (Omoku massacre) is condemnable and should be condemned by every right-thinking resident of the state. Rivers communities should not be allowed to become haven for blood-thirsty hoodlums.

“Rivers government must drastically re-engineer the security architecture and funding, to fight crime and stop the endless waste of human lives.”