Rivers women recount gruesome killing of their husbands by political thugs

The River State Commission of Inquiry, instituted by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to probe political killings in the state in the March 28 and April 11 general election, rounds up today, May 16.

The Commission, which began hearing on Monday, May 16, has collected evidence from over 15 witnesses, testifying on claims of arson, assault, and killings before the Commission.

The Inquiry also includes investigation of damaged properties and gravely injured people before and after the governorship poll in the state.

The women, who lost their husbands to the Rivers election violence recounted their ordeal in emotion-laden state.

Recalling the horror that left her a widow, Ijeoma Mbamalu, 21, said her 27-year-old mechanic husband was shot three time after political thugs invaded their home.

“They asked my husband to take them where the landlord lives and all the APC members in the compound,” Mbamalu the Commission of Inquiry.

“My husband said he doesn’t know the landlord and he pays his rent through his lawyer. At this point they got angry and took my baby from me and threw him on the bed and told me to lie down.

“They asked my husband the party we belonged to and my husband said we don’t belong to any party. They started searching the house maybe to look for any APC evidence. It was then they saw the money my husband wanted to take to market, N100,000, and they took it.

“They took my husband outside and shot him three times.”

The jobless widow begged the members of the Commission for assistance, saying, “I ask for you people’s help. I don’t have anything I’m doing and my husband left me with a baby.”

Mbamalu’s testimony was the third woman who testified before the Commission that their husbands were killed during the elections period.

Another woman identified as Caleb-Ahmed said she is left with the burden of raising four children, within the age range of 11, 8, 4, and 2 years old.

Ruth Orukwowu, 41, gave evidence about how her husband was shot dead at polling unit on April 11, the day of the governorship election.

She said has seven children, with the eldest being 18 years old and the youngest 11 months old.