The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three suspects in connection with the brutal machete attack on Christian Benjamin Ediegene, Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) of Okana, in Abua/Odual Local Council. The attack occurred on June 29, 2025, leaving Ediegene with severe injuries to his head, shoulder, hand, and back.

According to SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the command, the suspects were initially apprehended by operatives of the Ayama Police Division in Abua Central. They have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Port Harcourt for further, discreet investigation. The arrested individuals have been identified as Young Ezekiel, Isiah a.k.a Olito, and Onyekachi Paull, with police continuing to search for other fleeing assailants.

Narrating his traumatic ordeal, Ediegene recounted that on the morning of the attack, around 7:00 a.m., he was on his way to his farm when he encountered a group of boys mounting pillars on his farmland. Upon inquiring about their actions, he was ambushed and violently attacked with machetes. After the assault, despite his unconscious state, he managed to force himself to the main road where community residents came to his aid, transporting him to the police station in Abua Central.

The CDC chairman, currently recovering from his injuries, expressed his shock and his ongoing struggle to understand the motive behind the attack. He emphasized his demand for justice, stating, “For now, I am demanding justice. I heard the police have arrested some of them. I was unconscious but now, I am recovering at least I can talk a little.” The incident highlights the continued need for thorough investigation to fully uncover the reasons for this brutal assault.