The Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom and Chairman of the Supreme Forum of Ikwerre Government Recognized Traditional Rulers, His Majesty King Leslie Eke, popularly known as Eze Gbakagbaka, has strongly condemned the attempted lynching of a food vendor at the Eze Gbakagbaka Market, located in the Trans-Amadi area of Port Harcourt.,
Eze Gbakagbaka, known for his strong advocacy for peace and interfaith harmony, expressed deep concern over the incident, especially as it occurred shortly after the conclusion of the Ramadan fast and celebrations.
“It is worrisome that such a barbaric act took place right after a holy period meant for reflection, forgiveness, and love. Such actions undermine the very principles of religious belief and tolerance,” he stated.
The monarch emphasized the need for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths, warning that violence in the name of religion only discourages potential converts and damages communal harmony.
“Taking the law into one’s hands is never the solution, no matter the provocation. We must learn to accommodate one another. We are all creations of the same Creator.”
He assured the public that the incident would be thoroughly addressed and vowed to engage Muslim leaders in the area to prevent any recurrence of such violence.
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Eze Gbakagbaka also urged Islamic scholars and leaders in Rivers State to intensify efforts in preaching against violence and criminal acts by followers of any faith.
“The only healing balm this country needs now is peace and tolerance,” he concluded.
The incident, which reportedly occurred last Friday, 4 April 2025, involved a group of youths, believed to be of the Muslim faith, who allegedly attacked the woman over claims of blasphemy.
According to eyewitness reports, the confrontation started as a verbal disagreement between the food vendor and a male customer, which quickly escalated into a physical altercation laced with religious sentiments.
“In the heat of the argument, some members of the Muslim community accused the woman of blasphemy,” said an eyewitness. “They destroyed her food items, set fire to her table and umbrella, and chased her when she fled for safety.”
