Gunmen have shot the traditional ruler of the ancient Bangha Kingdom in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Royal Majesty Suanu Baridam, in what security sources describe as a fresh assassination attempt on the first-class monarch.
The attack occurred on Sunday along the Taabaa Junction-Sogho road in Khana LGA as the king was returning from an engagement in Okwale community. Sources said the assailants ambushed his vehicle and attempted to force it to stop.
When the driver reportedly refused to halt, the gunmen opened fire on the moving vehicle. The monarch was hit in the leg, while his driver also sustained gunshot wounds.
King Baridam was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt, where he is said to be responding to treatment. This is the second time the traditional ruler has survived an assassination attempt, raising renewed concerns over his safety.
Although the motive for the attack has yet to be established, preliminary information suggests the monarch was deliberately targeted.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Mr Thomas Bariere, condemned the attack, describing it as a criminal attempt to instil fear in the area.
Bariere said the shooting was not linked to any gang or cult crisis, but rather to the activities of criminal elements seeking to create the impression that Khana is unsafe.
“Their intention is to intimidate the people and create an atmosphere of fear that could drive away businesses and investors,” he said.
He assured residents that security agencies were already on top of the situation and warned that attacks on citizens and traditional institutions would no longer be tolerated.
“We know the source of these attacks, and security operatives will do their job. Those responsible will be brought to book,” Bariere added.
Meanwhile, the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) has called for a thorough investigation into the attack.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday, the group’s Executive Director, Mr Fyneface Dumnamene, described the shooting as an assault on the traditional institution in Rivers State and a threat to peace in Bangha Kingdom and the wider Ogoni area.
He urged the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to ensure a comprehensive investigation and called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to provide adequate security for the monarch and residents.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident. Its spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the monarch sustained gunshot injuries but was responding to treatment.
“Yes, I confirm the attack. Investigation is ongoing,” she said, adding that efforts were underway to track down the assailants.
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