“A young man, who no one could identify, was seen wandering around the sand dump area and some of our people accosted him, asking him to identify himself. He said he was from Finima and Ghana at the same time, which elicited interest in him and further questioning. When eventually, it was ascertained that he was truly from Finima, he was allowed to go. Nobody beat him or tried to drown him or asked him to sit on the floor.”

The above statement was how Iganima Pepple, an opinion leader in Olom Abalama (Oguede) Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State dismissed the allegation that an indigene of Finima, Sunny Young Brown, was assaulted at the sand dump in the Coconut Estate area of the community on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.  

Speaking on behalf of the Community, Pepple explained in an interview with Kristina Reports in Oguede Community on Friday, February 18, 2022 that in the course of its investigation into the matter the community leadership invited some residents of the area, sand dealers operating at the sand dump, and other stakeholders.

According to him, the findings indicated that Sunny Young Brown actually came to purchase sand from the sand dump on the said day but due to his movement, which raised suspicion, he was accosted by some of the community youths, who insisted that he properly identified himself, stating that he subsequently let go when it was clear that he was indeed an indigene of Brown House in Finima.

He asserted that Olom Abalama (Oguede) Community is a peaceful community, which serenity has attracted a growing number of sand dealers and marine vessel operators who ferry building materials, vehicles and other heavy duty machinery in barges through its waterfront on a daily basis.

He pointed out that this serene and secure atmosphere is further consolidated by the presence of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in its adjoining community, Akiama, with its mounted checkpoint at the Coconut Estate waterfront.

Pepple, who is a Knight of St. Christopher (KSC), appealed to the people of Finima Community to remain calm and resist any attempt to incite them against their sister communities, referencing his personal relationship with the person making the accusation, whom he described as “a family friend”, stressing that no harm would come any Finima indigene in Olom Abalama (Oguede) Community.