Six arrested in connection with murder of Rivers-based lawyer

The Rivers state police command have arrested six suspects in connection with the tragic killing of a lawyer, 46-year-old Barrister Bright Owhor, by unidentified gunmen on July 6, 2025.

The Port Harcourt legal community was thrown into mourning following the gruesome k!lling of Bright Nda-Owhor, a lawyer and indigene of Rumuomasi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, who was shot d3ad on Saturday, July 5, 2025.  

According to reports, Nda-Owhor was attacked at about 8pm shortly after shopping at a supermarket on Okigwe Street in Rumuomasi. Eyewitnesses claimed that three armed men entered his vehicle and shot him at close range before fleeing without taking any valuables. Despite frantic efforts to save his life, the lawyer’s condition rapidly deteriorated. 

He was first rushed to a Hospital, where he was allegedly denied emergency treatment. A second attempt to admit him at another hospital on also proved unsuccessful. He was eventually taken to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, where he was placed on oxygen. He passed away around 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 6, 2025. Nda-Owhor, a former Assistant Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Port Harcourt Branch, was also a former Special Assistant to the penultimate Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, Hon. George Ariolu, DSSRS. He was widely regarded as a dedicated legal practitioner and community advocate.

In a statement released today August 4, the spokesperson of the Rivers state police command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said shortly after the incident happened, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit were deployed to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Iringe-Koko said through meticulous intelligence work and technical surveillance over ten days, all individuals involved in the crime were identified and apprehended. They include the armed operative Prince Samuel ‘m’ 30 and Daniel Godwin ‘m’ 25 years, the driver of the getaway vehicle, Henry Peter ‘m’ 24 years – arm supplier, and he was the one that shot the victim, Godfrey Emmanuel ‘m’ a.k.a. Ibu 30 years – gang leader, Chukwu Nneji ‘m’ 34 years, Justice Dimkpa ‘m’ 27 years, and Promise Wikere ‘m’ 22 years – handler of stolen vehicles.

The police imagemaker said during interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the Deygbam Secret Cult Group. They admitted to their roles in the murder, the withdrawal of funds from the victim’s bank account, and involvement in recent cult-related violence between BS and G12 Deygbam factions in Diobu, Port Harcourt.

Recovered exhibits include One MTN SIM card, four locally made pistols, Seven rounds of 9mm ammunition, Two live cartridges, One Mini Bus and one Toyota Camry.

She added that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, commended the operational prowess of the Operatives, which underscores the commitment of the Command to the safety and security of all residents. These operations reflect a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and ensure public confidence in law enforcement.