Confirming the incident, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that investigations had commenced to track down the perpetrators.
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Tragedy struck in Rivers State as gunmen ambushed and killed the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Richard Timothy, alongside his 23-year-old son, Silas. The attack occurred at their residence in Igwuruta-Ali, near Port Harcourt, on the night of January 31, 2025.
Timothy’s widow, Grace, recounted the harrowing ordeal to journalists, revealing that the assailants, dressed in black, ambushed the family as they drove into their compound. According to her, the attackers shot her husband multiple times in the head before turning their guns on Silas, a recent graduate of the University of Port Harcourt who was awaiting deployment for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
How the Attack Unfolded
Narrating the events, Grace stated, “Around 9 p.m., as we returned home, my son opened the gate for us. Armed men dressed in black entered with us and started shooting. They shot my husband in the head multiple times. They also shot my son.”
She managed to escape but later returned to find her son’s lifeless body. “I was able to escape, but when I got back, I saw my son’s body on the floor. The police came, and I took his corpse to the morgue,” she added.
Grace further disclosed that the assailants dragged her into a nearby bush, demanding money before eventually letting her go. “They said they didn’t come for me but for my husband. They asked for money, but I told them I had none. One of them got shot accidentally during a scuffle, and while trying to escape with their injured member, they let me go,” she revealed.
Threats Prior to the Attack
The grieving widow alleged that her husband had received multiple threats due to his crackdown on looting at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium. She noted that he had reported these threats to the Igwuruta Police Station and even arrested two individuals last year for theft—one from the stadium and another from their neighborhood.
“He had been receiving threats. If the police check records at the Igwuruta Police Station, they will find reports he made about these threats. He even arrested two people last year for theft. I don’t want my husband to die in vain. He fought for the truth,” she said.
Police Investigations Underway
Confirming the incident, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that investigations had commenced to track down the perpetrators.
“The Rivers State Police Command is aware of a tragic incident that occurred on January 31, 2025, at about 11:40 p.m., where Richard Timothy, 59, Chief Security Officer of Adokiye Amiesimaka International Stadium, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, and his first son were brutally murdered by unknown gunmen,” the police spokesperson stated.
According to her, the Igwuruta Police Division received a distress call from Timothy’s daughter, Omolara, reporting that four armed men had ambushed her father and brother, shooting them in the head. The victims were rushed to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead.
Police recovered three expended AK-47 cartridges from the crime scene, and the Commissioner of Police has ordered the deployment of intelligence teams to apprehend the suspects.
Iringe-Koko assured that the police would intensify efforts to curb crime in Rivers State and ensure justice for the bereaved family.
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