Rivers Monarch Escapes Assassination as Gunmen Raze Palace, Several Wounded

Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe

Rivers Monarch Escapes Assassination as Gunmen Raze Palace, Several Wounded

Finima community in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, was thrown into chaos on Saturday when heavily armed gunmen stormed the palace of traditional ruler Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown in a brutal attack that left multiple people wounded and raised fears of escalating violence.

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The traditional ruler of Finima community in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown, escaped assassination by the whiskers on Saturday morning when his palace came under brutal attack by heavily armed gunmen. The attack happened between 3 am and 4 am, when residents of Amadabo witnessed heavy gunfire that left residential buildings, fences, and a vehicle riddled with bullets. The incident, which lasted several hours, was said to have started in the early hours of Saturday over disagreements relating to cultural identity and the right of families in the community to perform certain masquerade displays. In the confusion that followed, the attackers reportedly invaded the building housing the ancient palace and stormed the Amadabo’s personal living room, apparently in search of him and members of his household.

Community sources claimed that some individuals have been fingered as those that carried out the attack. The sources, who craved to remain anonymous, said they expect security agencies to unravel the sponsors of the heinous operation. One source in the community further disclosed that an indigene identified as Ibiwari Brown allegedly suffered a severe injury, with his hand reportedly cut off by the attackers. Several other people who sustained severe bullet wounds were rushed to undisclosed hospitals for medical attention. According to the sources, the attackers did not end at the monarch’s residence, as they spread bullets to the houses of some community leaders, including an indigene identified as Alabo Tuwonimi. At the time of filing the report, it could not be ascertained if security agencies had arrested any suspects in connection with the operation.

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The attack comes amid an ongoing dispute involving traditional institutions and chieftaincy interests in Finima, raising fears that the violence may be linked to a power struggle. The Buoye Omuso Brown Founding and Ruling House of Finima has called for urgent intervention by security agencies, the Rivers State Government, and other relevant authorities to prevent further deterioration of the situation. In a statement titled “SOS on Looming Invasion of Finima to Unleash Anarchy,” signed by its Administrative Secretary, Amasenibo Vivian Daps Brown, the Amadabo-in-Council raised concerns over alleged moves by the Bonny Chiefs Council, led by Se-Alabo (Amb.) Dagogo Soala Claude-Wilcox, to support a faction of the Tobin Chieftaincy House. The ruling house alleged that the development could cause unrest and threaten peace in Finima, warning that unknown individuals were being moved into the community for the purpose of causing what it described as “premeditated mayhem” against residents.

The Amadabo-in-Council recalled that the latest dispute originated in 2024 when a faction of the Tobin Chieftaincy House, led by Dagogo Joseph Tobin, reportedly initiated moves to establish what it described as the “Tobin House Owu-ogbo,” based on claims of ownership of Finima. The ruling house rejected the move, maintaining that the history and origin of Finima were well established and had been validated by courts of competent jurisdiction. Trouble reportedly began after a section of the Brown Chieftaincy House attempted to prevent the Tobin Chieftaincy House, both of Finima, from performing its annual festivals known as “Eremini and Fongu Mini,” scheduled for September 22, 2026. As part of the same cultural activities, the Tobin Chieftaincy House had also proposed to stage masquerade displays on October 31, 2026, an event which the Brown family had allegedly threatened to disrupt. But the Bonny Chiefs Council has debunked the claims of the Brown Chieftaincy House, dismissing them as unacceptable, provocative and capable of creating unnecessary tension and a breach of peace in the kingdom. In a statement, the council said no individual, faction, group or section of another chieftaincy house had the authority to stop or interfere with the cultural activities of another recognised chieftaincy house.

Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Amasenibo Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, directed the immediate suspension of all events and cultural activities in Finima Community. Pepple issued the directive when he visited the community for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, expressing grave concern over the incident and assuring residents that necessary measures were being taken to restore and sustain peace. Pepple strongly condemned the violence and warned that any attempt by individuals or groups to undermine the security architecture of Bonny Local Government Area would be firmly resisted. He said all persons found responsible for the attack would be identified and brought to justice, stressing that acts capable of threatening the peace, security and safety of residents would not be tolerated. He also commended the security agencies for their swift and professional response, noting that their intervention contributed significantly to bringing the situation under control. “Consequently, all security agencies have been duly notified of the directive suspending all events and cultural activities in Finima Community. Any person or group that disregards this directive will be arrested accordingly,” he stated. The chairman urged residents of Finima and the entire Bonny Local Government Area to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, assuring them that the security situation was being closely monitored.

The community, which hosts the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) complex, was said to have been thrown into panic after the attack. The violence has raised fresh concerns over the management of traditional institutions, cultural rights and chieftaincy relations in Bonny Kingdom, where long-standing customs remain central to identity, legitimacy and communal peace.