Monarch urges UN to probe Rivers election killings 

Abonmena monarch, Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel, has urged the United Nations to investigate the killing of over 20 persons and an army lieutenant during the presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers State.

He warned that the governorship, state legislative and other rescheduled elections may be disallowed in Abonnema, Rivers State if it will lead to loss of more lives.

Bob-Manuel stated this when hundreds of women dressed in black staged a protest to his palace over penultimate Saturday’s bloody conflict between the military and some youths, which claimed several lives and prevented the conduct of elections in the entire Akuku-Toru Local Government.

“Even during the Nigerian Civil War, we were here and we did not see this kind of thing. Be strong and by the grace of God we will overcome. This is a disaster and the United Nations should look into,” he said.

The king disclosed that the traditional council got a hint of the looming violence ahead of the elections, which led to a stakeholders meeting to say the community did not want political thuggery. According to him, if elections mean killings, then Abonnema people will not participate.

Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Tonye Briggs Oneyinde, who led the protesting women, said they were still grieving and mourning the wanton killing in Abonnema by the military.