The father of Councillor Ndiika Benson, Mr. Benson Ndoone, tragically lost his life in the aftermath of the post-election crisis that has unsettled Rivers State. The unfortunate incident occurred on Monday following violent protests sparked by the outcome of the local council elections held on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Ndiika Benson, who represents Ward 4 in the newly formed Khana Legislative Council, is mourning the loss of his father. Mr. Ndoone, a security personnel at Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic in Bori, was reportedly killed during an attack by suspected political thugs.
These individuals, believed to be affiliated with an opposition group, stormed the Rector’s Lodge at the Polytechnic. The attack is thought to have been an attempt to disrupt the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected councillors.
The violence came as tensions ran high over the results of the council elections, with the opposition disputing the results and resorting to violent means to express their grievances. According to reports, Mr. Ndoone was at the Rector’s Lodge when the thugs attacked, leading to the tragic loss of his life.
The Rector’s Lodge had previously served as the secretariat for the outgoing Caretaker Committee, led by Marvin Yobana, which had operated under difficult circumstances during a three-month siege on local councils by the Rivers State Police Command.
Mr. Ndoone, who hailed from the Zor-Sogho community, was also an active member of his local Community Development Committee (CDC). His death has left the community in shock, as he was well-known and respected for his contributions to local development efforts.
