...We are heartbroken—Family

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

An aide of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Kenneth Opusungi and  the Chairman, Rivers state Petroleum Taskforce whose wife, Mrs Opusingi, led other women on a peaceful protest to the headquarters of 6 Division the Nigerian Army on Thursday to protest his detention has been released.

The release of Opusingi  from  the barracks of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, was confirmed his brother, HRH Hope Daminabo Dan Opusingi (JP),the Paramount ruler of the Opu-Kula in Kula of Akuku-Toru local government area in a press statement.

He, however, lamented that the joy of the family over the release of their son was as he has been transferred to the state Headquarters of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Port Harcourt.

The traditional rulers frowned that the further detention at the SARS headquarters was done despite a subsisting court order granting Opusingi freedom after he has spent about a month under military detention.

“Kenneth Opusingi has just been released by the GOC 6 Division Nigeria Army and transferred SARS after one month of his detention, although, this action of the GOC is in flagrant disobedience of rule of law and court order on display.”

He, however, expressed appreciation to the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, and Rivers state Chapter, especially the chairman of the women wing, the Chairman, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo and the Hon. Akuro Tobins,  as well as Hon Commissioner for Youths for a successful protest.

Scores of women in solidarity with Mrs Kenneth Opusingi, and  the members of the Women’s wing of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Rivers state Chapter, with its Chairman, Mr Chijioke Ihunwo, donning an all black attire staged a peaceful protest to the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army to demand for the unconditional release of Mr Opusingi.

The women were received by top officers of the 6 Division and the detained Kenneth was brought out for them to see him.

Our Correspondent learnt that he was released to SARS officers later in the night according to his brother, the Paramount ruler.

It would be noted, however, that the Army had declared Mr. Opusingi and Rowland Sekibo, Chairman of Akuku-Toru local government wanted,  accusing them of allegedly being behind the attack of  a detachment of the Army on the eve of the Presidential election where a Lieutenant was killed in an ambush in Abonnema.