Gunmen on Sunday reportedly opened fire on the traditional ruler of Bangha Kingdom in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Royal Majesty Suanu Baridam
Baridam, a first-class monarch, who was reportedly shot between Taabaa Junction and Sogho while returning from an engagement in Okwale community, all within Khana LGA, was said to have escaped from the gunmen.
The assailants were said to have ambushed the monarch’s vehicle and tried to stop it, but the driver reportedly refused to stop.
Angered by the action, the criminals then opened fire, injuring the monarch in the leg, while the driver also sustained gunshot wounds.
Though the motive for the attack could not be confirmed at the time of filing this report, initial indications suggest that the gunmen intended to assassinate the traditional ruler.
This marks the second time King Baridam has survived an assassination attempt. He is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.
Reacting to the attack, the Chairman of Khana LGA, Mr Thomas Bariere, condemned the assault on the monarch, saying that the incident was not linked to any gang-related crisis.
He explained that a group of criminals has been attempting to instill fear in residents of Khana.
“Their intention is to cause intimidation and create an atmosphere that looks like there is a crisis in Khana, which could drive away businesses and investors.
“We have faced this before, we understand their antics, and we are on top of our game. All security formations in this environment have been providing credible intelligence and know the source of this scourge,” he said.
