Rivers monarch faults market closure order over burial ceremony
A monarch and village Head of Ngo Town in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Royal Highness Ujeile Ngere, has raised the alarm over a looming crisis in the community following an order to shut down markets and restrict movement of people by an individual on account of a forthcoming burial ceremony.
This is as the monarch called on the Rivers State Government and security agencies to quickly intervene and avert a possible breakdown of law and order.
King Ngere who made the call during a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday, was reacting to a publication by a member of the community ordering the restriction of movement and closure of markets in the community for two days due to a burial ceremony.
Stressing that under his reign, the people of Ngo and Andoni, in general, had enjoyed peace, the traditional ruler described the publication as malicious and inciting, even as he urged the public to disregard the order.
He said, “It is with a rude shock that my attention was drawn to a malicious, inciting, and provocative publication authored by an indigene of Ngo Town, where he ordered the restriction of people’s movement, close- down of Ngo main market and ban on the conduct of burials or any form of ceremony in Ngo Town, effective February 28 to March 1, 2025.
“This purported order is being made under the guise of the burial of their departed chief. This disturbing publication is not only primitive, barbaric, and draconian, but indeed, it is an invitation to chaos and anarchy, with the potential to trigger communal crisis in Ngo Town.”
Continuing, the monarch maintained that the originator of the order had no legal rights to issue such as he was not a member of any of the constitutionally recognised royal families of Ngo Town, describing the move as an affront to the governor of the state.
“In my capacity as the Village Head of Ngo and the custodian of the customs and traditions of my people, I reiterate that such order of shutting down business activities and restriction of people’s movement is unknown in Ngo Town and does not exist even as a bye-Law in Andoni Local Government Area.
“Consequently, the people of Ngo and the general public are hereby asked to disregard such publication in its entirety and also advised to proceed with their lawful businesses.
“For purposes of clarity, it is only the Governor of Rivers State who has the statutory powers to declare curfew or restriction of movement in any part of the state in line with relevant sections of the extant Executive Orders and not an individual or group of persons or family.”
The monarch further called on the Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Lazarus Nteogule, to continue to promote peace, unity, development, and progress in Ngo Town and Andoni LGA in general.
