Gunmen suspected to be cultists have reportedly shot the Community Development (CDC) chairman, Ndidi Livingstone to death inside a church at Mgbuosimiri community, Obio-Akpor local government local government area, a suburb of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
The incident which has thrown panic and mourning to the community occurred on Saturday evening, January 14, 2024.
According to available reports, the gunmen shot Ndidi Livingstone dead point blank as he was coming out of the compound of the Church known as Peculiar Faith Ministry at the Agip axis of Mgboshimni, Mile Four area of Port Harcourt.
However, an eyewitness said, “His killers driving a black Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle waited for him to come out from the church where he had attended an ongoing church programme for January and shot him several times before driving off”.
The late Ndidi Livingstone and his wife, Patience, celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary in July 2023, while on December 21, the late Community leader marked his birthday.
Also, on Christmas Boxing Day, December 26, the late CDC Chairman of Mgbosomili community celebrated the birthday of his wife without any suspicion that that was the last he would celebrate with his wife.
The Rivers Police Command had not reacted to the tragic incident at the time of filing this report.
In another development, Governor Hyacinth Alia has appealed to the kidnappers of the Caretaker Chairman, Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Gideon Haanongon, and three others, to release them unconditionally.
Mr Alia appealed on Saturday, during a funeral oration for Ter (paramount ruler) Katsina-Ala, Fezanga Wombo, at the Akume Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala LGA of the State.
Recall that Mr Haanongon, his orderly, driver and personal assistant were kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday, while on their way to attend the funeral ceremony of the late traditional ruler.
The governor called for the immediate release of the kidnapped chairman and those with him.
He said that his administration was ready to engage the youths to be useful in society if they refrained from criminal activities.
He decried the spate of killings and kidnappings in the area by bandits and warned that his administration would not condone such nefarious acts.
Mr Alia called on both serving and former lawmakers, as well as other prominent sons of Sankara, to convene an emergency meeting to proffer lasting solutions to the insecurity in the area.
He assured that their recommendations would be implemented immediately when forwarded to him.
The governor also urged traditional leaders in the area to put heads together to proffer lasting solutions to the challenges bedevilling the area, saying that his administration was determined to ensure that peace returned not only to Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala LGAs but to the entire state.
Mr Alia commiserated with the family of the late Mr Wombo over the demise of their father and urged them to be consoled by the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, called for collective responsibility to move the state forward.
Represented by Jack Gyado, Mr Akume called on all Sankara sons to ensure peace returned to the area.
The SGF pledged the federal government’s commitment to ensuring that there was peace in Benue for efficient development.
