Finima Dawn of Violence: Tobin, Brown Trade Accusations; Amadabo, Others Escape Alleged Assassination Attempt

The narratives of what is now termed the “dawn of violence” in Finima Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State remains controversial at the moment as the two opposing chieftaincy houses, Brown and Tobin Houses mutually accuse each other of assault.

The Amadabo of Finima, Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown, reportedly escaped what his aides described as an apparent assassination attempt on his life in the morning of Saturday, Saturday, August 22, 2026 when some yet-to-be-identified assailants allegedly opened fire on his private residence.

Kristina Reports reliably learnt from his aides that Aseme Alabo Brown was absent from the building when the incident occurred having travelled out of Rivers State for his routine medical check-up.

On the other hand, the Chairman of Tobin Chieftaincy House, Wariopusenibo Darlington Adango Tobin was allegedly chased from his home and shot at several times but escaped unharmed from his assailants.

The Tobin House, in a press briefing on Saturday, August 22, 2026 in Port Harcourt by its Secretary, Wariopusenibo Golden Tobin, accused a faction of the Brown Chieftaincy House of launching an assault on its members who were preparing for their Fungu Mini and Eremini Festival later on Saturday.

“The Tobin Chieftaincy House of Finima has been fixed to perform the Eremini today, Saturday, the 22nd of August, 2026, only to be attacked at about 3am in our premises by the Engineer Dagogo Lambert Brown led faction of the Brown House together with his cohorts who have threatened and sworn that the Tobin House will never in their lifetime be allowed to perform, participate, observe, or display their Owu-Ogbo in Finima, Bonny Kingdom.”

Though Kristina Reports can confirm that there was a violent incident in a section of Finima Community on the said day, it could, however, not independently verify the claim that the assailants were acting on the directive of or associated with Aseme Dagogo Lambert Brown, as at the time of this report.

But in a swift rebuttal, when contacted, the Amadabo of Finima dismissed the claims, saying that he never ordered an attack on his kinsmen, members of the Tobin House, adding that he is not even in town.

Speaking through one of his aides, Dr Bara Kabaka Brown, the traditional ruler queried, “who cut the hand of a Brown House person? Is the video not there where the young man called out Sunny Tobin, Christian Tobin and Idamina Tobin as his attackers? Is Tobin House worth an attack by Brown House?”

He told Kristina Reports that there are close circuit television (CCTV) footages that captured the incident in real time and could make available to the media house.  

A video circulating on social media, which Kristina Reports reviewed, appears to show a young man with a severed hand and injury to his leg.

The circumstances surrounding the injury could, however, not be independently established by Kristina Reports.

Same as other videos allegedly of the incident, which are currently trending online, also show several other persons who were injured, as well as properties damaged including buildings, vehicles and others.

The Rivers State Police Command had not issued a public statement as of the time of this publication, while its spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, had yet to respond to enquiries from Kristina Reports.

As at Sunday, 23 August 2026, a Kristina Reports’ team which visited the community reports that calm has returned to Finima given the heavy deployment of troops from the 146 Battalion Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the area.

The Amadabo of Finima says he has continued to urge restraint from all parties, asserting that no disagreement is worth the life of any Finima indigene be they Brown, Tobin or Attoni, adding that the law enforcement agencies should be allowed to carry out a thorough investigation of what transpired on that “sad morning”.

On his part, the Secretary of Tobin House, Wariopusenibo Golden Tobin also called on the security agencies to investigate the incident and unravel the real issues behind it and bring to face the law the perpetrators of the act.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Bonny LGA, Abinye Pepple has directed a halt of all cultural activities in Finima Community, stressing the need for the security agencies to properly investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.