Justice Chinelo C. Odili of the High Court of Rivers State has sentenced Stephen Dike to death by hanging for his involvement in the massacre of nine persons at Mgbuodohia community in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on April 6, 2019.
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The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in Suit No. PHC/2406/CR/2022: The State v. Oni Williams (now deceased) and Stephen Dike, concludes a three-and-a-half-year trial that exposed a coordinated attack that left families bereaved and communities traumatised.
The defendants were arraigned on five counts of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, membership of secret cult, illegal possession of firearms, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace. They pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The first defendant, Onu Williams, died during proceedings and his name was struck out, leaving Stephen Dike as the sole defendant.
According to evidence before the court, on April 6, 2019, between 10pm and 11pm, the defendant and his gang, armed with AK-47 rifles, pump action guns, and machetes, invaded Mgbuodohia community dressed in black, shouting “america america” and “officer officer.”
The gang systematically moved from house to house, specifically searching for their targets — Nwabuoku Stephen Ikenga, Rowland Abraham, and Princewill Temple Ikenga — shooting them in the head, chest, and stomach in the presence of their wives and children. A total of nine persons were killed that night.
PW1, wife of the late Nwabuoku Stephen Ikenga, testified that the gang broke through her bathroom window and shot her husband in the head and chest. PW2, wife of the late Rowland Abraham, testified that five men with machetes and “big big guns” entered her home, found her husband hiding in the toilet, and shot him in the stomach and head, causing instant death.
PW3, elder brother of one of the victims, testified that he heard his brother shouting, “Onu Onu wetin I do wey you come carry gun come shoot me?” followed by a gunshot. PW4, cousin of the late Rowland Abraham, testified that he saw the defendant and Onu Williams emerge from his brother’s room carrying “long guns like that of the police people” after shooting him.
PW5, OSPAC Chairman Kenneth Olumeni, testified that in 2021, Onu Williams returned to the community and was arrested by his security outfit and handed to police. During interrogation, Onu Williams confessed and mentioned Stephen Dike among his gang members. Dike was subsequently arrested.
PW6, Police Officer Williams Ekpei, testified that Stephen Dike confessed to the crime and that his statement was taken in an open place. Dike however alleged he was tortured — hung by his thumbs tied to a ceiling fan hook with a shoe rope — and forced to sign the statement.
Justice Odili found that the police failed to comply with Section 17 of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 7 of 2015, as there was no video recording of the process of obtaining the defendant’s statement, and his lawyer was not present. The confessional statement was accordingly expunged.
However, the court noted that this did not affect the prosecution’s case, as it had other compelling evidence, including multiple eyewitness testimonies.
Dike denied knowing Onu Williams or any involvement in the attack, claiming he was in his community on the night in question. The court found his defence of alibi to be without merit, noting that he did not call any witness to corroborate it.
Under cross-examination, Dike’s credibility was severely challenged. He claimed to be a pipeline welder but said he acquired the skill in 2020 — a year after his alleged arrest. He also contradicted himself on the date of his arrest, first saying August 2019, then correcting to August 2021.
On Murder (Count 2): The court found all three ingredients of murder satisfied — the death of the victims, that the defendant caused the deaths, and that the acts were intentional with knowledge that death or grievous bodily harm was the probable consequence. “When the defendant and his group invaded Mgbuodohia with long guns, deliberately searched for the victims, and shot them in the head and chest, the intention was clearly to kill them,” Justice Odili held.
On Conspiracy (Count 1): The court found clear evidence that the attack was planned. “The offenders were specific about who they searched for, shot, and killed. The attack was clearly planned by the Defendant, the late Onu Williams and the others.”
On Secret Cult Membership (Count 3): Not Guilty. The prosecution failed to prove membership of Deygbam secret cult specifically, despite evidence of cult-like conduct.
On Illegal Possession of Firearms (Count 4): Guilty. Multiple eyewitnesses testified that they saw the defendant carrying a long gun, and there was no evidence he was authorised to possess such a weapon.
On Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Peace (Count 5): Guilty. The attack caused residents to flee their homes and leave the community.
Defence counsel A.K. Nwankwo urged the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that the convict is a first-time offender and father of three.
The prosecution, led by Rosemary Okwudiri Nwogu (Mrs), Chief State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, argued that the law should take its course to serve as a deterrent, noting: “This is quite a pathetic case, 9 fathers, 9 widows.”
Justice Odili noted that there is no provision in the Criminal Procedure Code for lesser punishment where the death sentence is mandatory.
The sentences are:
Count 1 (Conspiracy to commit murder): 7 years imprisonment.
Count 2 (Murder): Death by hanging.
Count 4 (Illegal possession of firearms): 10 years imprisonment.
Count 5 (Conduct likely to cause breach of peace): One month imprisonment.
All sentences are to run concurrently.
“This case is a heartbreaking one that seems unreal. Stephen Nwoburuoke Ikenga, Princewill Temple Ikenga and Rowland Abraham were in their homes with their families and the arrival of the defendant and his gang members turned their lives around. Children became fatherless in a gruesome manner, wives became widows instantly, parents lost their sons, and siblings lost their brothers and cousins or family members. A total of 9 people confirmed dead in one night by the hands of Stephen Dike and his gang,” the judge stated.
“Whether the men had disagreements with the defendant, Onu Williams and the other members of their cult did not give them the right to snatch lives that they did not give.”
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