JUST IN: Rivers senator, Barinada Mpigi, dies at 64

Barinada Mpigi, the senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, is dead.

He was aged 64.

Mpigi, who served as chairman of the senate committee on Works, reportedly passed away on Thursday after a brief illness.

As of press time, the exact cause and location of his death had not been officially disclosed, though family sources confirmed that relatives are mourning his passing.

A source alleged that the senator had been flown abroad for brain surgery following a diagnosis of a brain tumour, but the claim had not been independently verified.

Until his death, Mpigi was regarded as a close ally of the minister of the federal capital territory, Nyesom Wike.

The late lawmaker was from Tai Local Government Area in the Ogoni ethnic nationality of Rivers State. He previously served two terms in the House of Representatives, representing the Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency.

Mpigi was a member of both the 9th and 10th Senates and was serving in the current assembly at the time of his death.

A source who confirmed the development on condition of anonymity described the news as shocking.

“We are shocked over this news. I am short of words. I don’t know what to say. We are in pain,” the source said.