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The Mgbuodohia community in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, has been thrown into a mix of relief and solemn reflection following the conviction and sentencing of a man for a series of brutal killings that claimed several lives.
The High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, sentenced Stephen Dike to death by hanging for murder in Suit No. PHC/2406/CR/2022: The State vs. Onu Williams & Stephen Dike. The matter was presided over by Hon. Justice Chinelo C. Odili.
The defendants were arraigned on five counts bordering on conspiracy to commit murder, murder, membership of a secret cult, illegal possession of firearms, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. However, the first defendant, Onu Williams, died during the course of the trial, leaving Stephen Dike to face judgment alone.
In a well-considered judgment, the court found Dike guilty of the murder of Nwabuoku Stephen Ikenga, Rowland Abraham, Princewill Temple Ikenga, and six other persons whose identities were not fully established during proceedings. The court held that the victims were unlawfully killed during violent attacks carried out by the convict and his associates.
During the allocutus stage, defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, describing the convict as a first-time offender and a father of three, and urging the court to consider the impact of the sentence on his family. The prosecution, however, opposed the plea, describing the case as tragic and stressing that the victims were also fathers whose deaths had left behind widows and families. The prosecution urged the court to allow the law to take its full course as a deterrent.
In her ruling, Justice Odili stated that the law does not provide discretion for a lesser punishment where death sentence is mandatorily prescribed by statute, relying on judicial authorities including Lucky John Paul v. The State (2019). The court further referenced relevant provisions of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law on the proper pronouncement of a death sentence.
The court consequently sentenced Stephen Dike as follows:
Seven years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder;
Death by hanging for murder;
Ten years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms;
One month imprisonment for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
The court ordered that all sentences should run concurrently.
Speaking to the Sun newspaper on Monday, one of the counsel in the matter stated that Justice has been served, noting that the judgment will serve as a deterrent in the community.
