The Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) has strongly condemned what it described as a “cowardly and provocative” attempt on the life of the Monarch of Bangah Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Mene Suanu Baridam.
The youth organisation warns that continued attacks on traditional institutions pose a grave threat to peace in Ogoniland and Rivers State at large.
The incident, which occurred on 25 January, has sparked outrage among Ogoni youths, who say the attack goes beyond the person of the monarch and strikes at the very heart of Ogoni identity, values, and communal harmony.
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Reacting to the development, the President-General of the Ogoni Youth Federation, Engr. Legborsi Yamaabana in a document shared by Hycienth Ana to TPCN, described the incident as unacceptable and deeply disturbing.
Yamaabana noted this attack as the second assassination attempt on the monarch within a few months, following a similar incident in the last quarter of 2025.
According to Yamaabana, the repeated targeting of a traditional ruler known for peace-building and unity raises troubling questions about the erosion of respect for cultural institutions and ancestral authority in the land.
He warned that Ogoni youths would not tolerate any systematic attempt to undermine or intimidate traditional rulers, stressing that the sacred stool of the ancestors must be protected at all costs.
The Federation called on security agencies to immediately identify, arrest, and prosecute those behind the attack, demanding swift and decisive action.
Meanwhile, OYF cautioned that failure to achieve tangible progress within 24 hours could trigger peaceful mobilisation by Ogoni youths in pursuit of justice.
Furthermore, OYF also urged the Rivers State Government and relevant security authorities to urgently strengthen security around the monarch, noting that his growing national relevance may have made him a target.
The group recalled that King Suanu Baridam was recently appointed Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers’ Mediation Team, a body tasked with resolving the ongoing political impasse between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in the state.
According to the Federation, any threat to his life constitutes a direct threat to peace and political stability in Rivers State.
The Ogoni Youth Federation concluded by offering prayers for the monarch’s safety and strength, while warning that the matter must not be ignored or trivialised.
“Ogoni must not become a killing field,” the statement read. “Justice must be served—swiftly and transparently.”
