Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Gunmen launched a brazen attack on the palace of the Amadabo of Finima Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State during a cultural masquerade display on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in a violent escalation of a long-simmering dispute over traditional rites and chieftaincy rights in the oil-rich island community. His Royal Highness, Chief Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown, narrowly escaped death when heavily armed assailants invaded the palace and opened fire sporadically, leaving residential buildings, fences and a vehicle riddled with bullets. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., threw Finima, a community that hosts critical national energy assets including the Nigeria LNG gas liquefaction plant and Renaissance Africa Energy's Bonny crude oil export terminal, into chaos and panic.
The violence, which lasted several hours, was reportedly triggered by disagreements relating to cultural identity and the right of families in the community to perform certain masquerade displays. Trouble began after a section of the Brown Chieftaincy House allegedly attempted to prevent the Tobin Chieftaincy House 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. The Tobin Chieftaincy House is one of 34 recognised chieftaincy houses in Bonny Kingdom, all of which are said to have the legitimate right to perform established cultural and traditional festivals.
The Finima monarch had previously alerted the police and accused the Bonny traditional authorities of complicity in the crisis, claiming that with the alleged backing of a section of the Bonny Chiefs Council, mercenaries were imported into the community to enforce what he described as a "strange event that wants to happen in Finima". Before the latest dispute, the people of Finima had conducted their festivals and masquerades together in unity, and the monarch insisted that he was being intimidated into deviating from the cultural and traditional norms of his people. However, the Bonny Chiefs Council debunked the claims of the Brown Chieftaincy House, dismissing them as unacceptable and provocative. 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.
The attackers reportedly did not stop at the monarch's residence, as they spread bullets to the houses of some community leaders and residents. Several residents sustained gunshot wounds and machete cuts during the incident. One indigene, Ibiwari Brown, allegedly suffered a severe injury, with his hand reportedly cut off from his wrist by the attackers. A detachment of police operatives was subsequently deployed to the area to restore order, with the timely arrival of security personnel led by the Bonny Divisional Police Officer preventing further loss of life. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed that normalcy had been restored to the community.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers, ASP Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, August 24, 2026, stating that an investigation had commenced to identify and arrest those responsible for the attack. Agabe also confirmed that one member of the gang had been arrested and was providing useful information to assist the investigation, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspected members who remained at large. Although no deaths were recorded, several residents reportedly sustained injuries that required medical attention.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Council, Mr. Abinye Pepple, condemned the attack and destruction of property, expressing concern over the incident and calling for an impartial investigation to prevent further escalation. Pepple directed the immediate suspension of all events and cultural activities in Finima Community and assured that anyone involved in the attack would face justice, regardless of their position or status. He appealed to residents who had fled the community to return home and remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, assuring them that security operatives had been deployed to protect lives and property and maintain peace in the community.
Meanwhile, 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. The Amadabo-in-Council raised concerns over alleged moves by the Bonny Chiefs Council to support a faction of the Tobin Chieftaincy House, warning that the development could cause unrest and threaten peace in Finima. The dispute, which originated in 2024 when a faction of the Tobin Chieftaincy House led a breakaway, has deepened divisions within the community and raised fears of further violence. For now, Finima remains on edge, with residents hoping that the suspension of cultural activities and the ongoing police investigation will restore peace to a community that has become a flashpoint in the struggle for traditional authority in Bonny Kingdom.
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