Residents of Bonny Island in Rivers State have accused the police of alleged bias and unequal treatment in handling a violent clash between the Tobin and Brown families.
The residents expressed concern over what they described as a disparity in the charges filed against members of the two families following the incident, which reportedly occurred on August 22, 2026.
Elder Darlinton Tobin, head of the Tobin family, and other family members were charged with attempted murder, while five members of the Brown family were reportedly charged with misdemeanour offences and granted bail.
The clash allegedly erupted amid a long-running dispute over participation in an annual cultural festival in Bonny Island. Residents claimed that armed individuals attacked the Tobin family compound while members of the family were preparing for their scheduled cultural rites, leaving several people injured.
Some residents alleged that the police failed to adequately investigate evidence presented by the Tobin family and instead detained members of the family during the investigation. They also questioned why the two sides allegedly faced different levels of charges despite injuries sustained by members of both families.
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The dispute reportedly persisted despite interventions by community leaders and the local government chairman. The Tobin family’s lawyer, Olayinka Sanni, had also allegedly raised concerns about the conduct of officers handling the investigation during a meeting with the Rivers State Commissioner of Police.
However, the police’s position on the allegations remains unclear. The Rivers State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, said she had not yet received a briefing from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on the matter. She reportedly promised to make inquiries.
As of the time of the report, the police had not provided a further response to the allegations.
Residents have called for fairness, transparency and an impartial investigation to ensure that all parties are treated equally under the law.
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