Army arrests Ogoni traditional ruler

A traditional ruler in Ogoniland, Rivers State, HRH Barinaadaa T.D. Gbaranee has been arrested by personnel of the Nigerian Army. Gbaranee, who is the paramount ruler of Yeghe community in Gokana Local Government Area, was arrested for questioning by the military over security issues in his domain. Spokesman of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Captain Eli Lazarus, who conCompfirmed the incident, said the royal father was only invited for questioning.



Meanwhile, the Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, COTRA, has expressed its displeasure and condemnation of yesterday’s arrest of the paramount ruler. Chairman, Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Suanu T.Y. Baridam, made the condemnation in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, alleging that he was kidnapped.

“We consider the abduction of Chief T.D. Gbaranee a desecration of the highly respected tradition al institution and strongly reject the humiliation of an Ogoni traditional stool by the Army. “We demand the immediate release of Chief Gbaranee and expect that if there be any issue regarding his conduct, he ought to be treated with respect, decency and in a dignified manner with an invitation. If that fails, the issue should be brought before the Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers; if that fails, the issue should be brought before the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, failure upon which further actions can be taken.


“We accuse the army of dubious intentions and alert the Nigerian people and the international community of clear genocidal intentions against the Ogoni people and particularly Yeghe people,” it said.
“We note that the actions of the Nigerian army in Ogoniland in recent times following the raids and killing of over 20 persons and subsequent raids on the peaceful and law abiding citizens of Yeghe, calls for serious questions regarding the credibility and intentions of the army’s presence in Ogoniland.”