06/10/2025
EDITORIAL: Why Peace May Be Far From Finima
October 6, 2025 | Kristina Reports
Peace is unlikely to return to Finima Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State due to ongoing violence and a lack of effective responses from security forces.
Since a violent incident in 2020 involving Evans Brown where the local police failed to act, the community has witnessed persistent assaults, including mobbing, acid attacks, and arson, with little to no action taken by law enforcement agencies.
Recent meetings convened by the Bonny Local Government Chairman aimed at resolving conflicts in Finima are seen as futile, as those perpetuating violence are determined and financially capable of obstructing peace efforts.
A major contributing factor is a secessionist agenda pursued by a faction of the Brown Major House, which seeks to separate from Bonny Kingdom and establish Finima as an independent kingdom. This movement gained momentum after the suspension of the late Se-Alabo Idamieibi Brown from the Bonny Chiefs Council.
They have since worked on creating local institutions and leadership structures. Challenges to their agenda, including legal reviews of the elections for chief, have only fuelled their resolve.
The faction loyal to Idamieibi Brown is characterized by violent tactics, using fear to control the community. They have frequently attacked residents, visitors, journalists, and security personnel, often evading justice by bribing or intimidating law enforcement.
The situation has worsened under the divisional police officer, Mukhtar Mahdi, who is perceived as biased and slow to respond to violence, failing to make arrests or take meaningful action against ongoing crimes.
These issues indicate that peace in Finima is hindered not only by individual actors but also by a broader environment where the violent factions dictate the community’s affairs.
Although there is potential for peaceful coexistence among the different chieftaincy houses, any peace initiative that does not align with the secessionist agenda is likely to be undermined.
To address the violence, security agencies must look beyond superficial political concerns and understand the underlying motivations of the aggressors in the community. They need to address claims of community ownership, misuse of funds from oil companies, influence over security, divisive behaviours, and biased judicial actions.
The influence of those who perpetuate violence must be recognized, as their control over Finima will continue to obstruct any attempts at peace. This influence is strengthened by motivation drawn from lack of action or non-response from the justice system. Where perpetrators of criminal actions are not arrested and prosecuted, more perpetrators would be birthed and enamoured to do same or even more.
The Bonny Local Government must appreciate that its interventions would be viewed as genuine only if it recuses itself from serving as enabler of any aspect of the community. Its position is already burdened by the perceived selective involvement of members of Finima Community serving in key roles in the government; hence, it needs to rise above that challenge through balanced actions and strategic public communication, portraying its efforts as well intentioned and not benign to any interest in Finima.
Also, chieftaincy houses in Finima should promote peace by calming down harmful speech, especially on social media. Respecting each house’s independence and following the Nigerian Constitution should guide their interactions.
It is also important for external influences, particularly members of other chieftaincy houses, including Bonny Kingdom institutions to desist from inflaming controversies in Finima. These entities must avoid being perceived as meddlesome interlopers and therefore curtail any action or statements that would appear divisive for the interest of peace. All stakeholders must recognize their roles as neutral and unbiased interveners and not enablers of any faction.
We are hopeful that these recommendations if taken seriously by all stakeholders would serve to de-escalate the tension in Finima Community and restore genuine peace, thus accentuating the potential for rendering it attractive again to investors, tourists and would-be residents.
Bonny Local Government Bonny Chiefs' Council - BCC King Perekule Palace Finima TV Rivers Police E-News Sir Siminalayi Fubara Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Godswill Obot Akpabio Nigeria Police Force HQ Nigerian Army Nigerian Air Force HQ Nigerian Navy House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria Nigerian Senate
[object Object],
