Ogoni Monarch Petitions IGP Over Alleged Threat To Life

Acting chairman of Nyo-Khana Council of Traditional Rulers in Khana local government area of Rivers State, King Mene Kabari-Nule, has written a petition to the inspector-general of police (IGP) Olatunji Disu, alleging threat to his life.

In the petition written on behalf of Kabari-Nule by his lawyer, Chinwe Omodu, copies of which were sent to heads of relevant security agencies, he accused a prominent traditional ruler in Ogoniland, King Suanu Baridam of being behind the threat.

He accused Baridam, who is the traditional ruler of Bangha Kingdom, of threatening to abduct him with security operatives in mufti.

Kabari-Nule, who is also the traditional ruler of Taaba community in Ogoni, said the incident occurred during a meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers on April 24, 2026, at about 1: 37 pm.

He said while the meeting was on, he stepped out to enter his car because of an emergency only to be accosted by the police officer attached to Baridam, who directed him to go and meet unknown persons in a parked Sienna vehicle outside the traditional rulers’ secretariat at Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

The monarch through his lawyer said the police officer threatened to arrest him if he refused to meet the men on mufti inside the parked Sienna, adding that it took the intervention of the council security to rescue him.

He also said King Baridam later returned to the complex in company with the suspected security men in plain clothes.

Kabari-Nule recalled that he has not had any previous disagreement with the Bangha monarch to warrant such attempt on his life, except his opposition to the installation of one Mr Sunday Aweka as a chief in Barasi-Taabaa Community.