Daniel Efe
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the Rivers State Government will pursue justice for all those murdered allegedly in cold hands of soldiers of the Nigerian Army recruited by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unleash mayhem on PDP members in Abonnema and other towns during Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Addressing
journalists on Sunday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor
Wike said that all those involved in the cold blooded murder of innocent Rivers
people to feather the Presidential Ambition of their benefactor will not
go unpunished.
Governor Wike particularly berated the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army , Major General Jamil Sarham and the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARs) Akin Fakorede for their ugly roles in the murder of Rivers people during the elections.
He said: “Let it be known that those who masterminded the murderous assault on Abonnema and other communities in Rivers State last Saturday have bloodstains on their hands, for which they are all answerable before the Almighty God.
“I wish to
assure all and sundry that we shall as a government pursue justice for the
families of the victims against the perpetrators of the mayhem, killings and
destructions in Abonema, Buguma, Degema and other places no matter how powerful
they may seem and how long it may take”.
Governor Wike called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately direct the army to pull out of Abonnema, so that the people can resume their normal lives.
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“I call on Mr. President to please, in the name
of God direct the army to withdraw the occupation and siege on Abonnema and
Bonny communities so that the people can go about with their normal
lives”, he said.
Governor Wike wondered why the Minister of
Transportation would connive with the Nigerian Army to spill the
blood of Rivers people just for the purpose of political relevance.
“But, like all well meaning Nigerians, I dare
to ask: does the ambition of Mr. President to cling on to power warrant the
gruesome and coldblooded murder of innocent souls in Rivers State by the
Minister of Transportation and his armed gangs?
He berated prominent Kalabari sons who collaborated with the
Minister of Transportation to kill their own people because of electoral
success.
He asked: “Are the APC leaders of
Kalabari, especial Mr. Tonye Cole, Prince Tonye Princewill and Professor
Charles Dokubo pleased with the killings and destruction in Abonnema and other
parts of kalabari by the army?
“Can they in
all conscience defend and or be happy to be the among the principal actors with
the Transport Minister to inflict such horrendous levels of killings and
devastation to their own people and communities just to prove how connected
they are to the Federal Government and the nation’s military? What a shame?”
The governor
outlined the atrocities committed by the Minister of
Transportation, the GOC 6 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Federal
Special Anti-robbery Squad during the Presidential and National Assembly
elections in Rivers State.
“As I
speak, the army are ravaging the entire Abonnema community and killing young
men found in their homes. In Bonny, Rotimi Amaechi’s ally and former
Commissioner of Transport, George Tolofari led a band of APC thugs to cordon
off the RAC centre with the support of the army and prevented the elections
from holding in that Local Government Area.
” At
Okrika, APC thugs snatched election materials from four riverine wards to an
unknown destination, also with the support of the army. This same scenario was
repeated in parts of Ahoada West, Asari Toru, Emouha Degema, and Opobo/Nkoro
Local Government Areas of the State.
” Again, in the ensuring confusion and anarchy
the army shot and killed a youth corper as well as an INEC’s ad hoc staff in
Emouha and Degema Local Government Areas respectively”, he said.
Governor Wike added: “In the week preceding yesterday’s
elections, various communities and interests groups of the PDP in Rivers State
issued comprehensive press statements alerting the nation about their fears and
concerns over the unrefuted conspiracy by the trio of Rotimi Amaechi,
Major-General Jamil Sarham and Victor Akin Fakorede to violently scuttle the
peaceful conduct of the general elections in Rivers State”.
However there has
been presence of the Nigerian Army Abonnema in Akuku Toru local government area
of Rivers State since on Saturday after hoodlums ambushed a detachment of
Soldiers deployed the area to secure it for peaceful election.
The well armed hoodlums
engaged the Soldiers in severe gun battle killing a lieutenant among
casualties.
A statement by headquarters of Nigerian Army and signed by Colonel
Sagir Musa, Acting Director of Public Relations, said that the Chairman of the Council, Rowland Sekibo and the Chief Security
Officer, CSO, one Omodo and Kenneth of Kula have been declared wanted by
the military over the ambush of the Soldiers.
According to the Army to Colonel Sagir Musa, Acting
Director Army Public Relations alleged that the “Preliminary investigation
indicated that one Roland Sekibo, – the Chairman Akuku Toru LGA, Omodo –
the CSO Akuku Toru LGA and Kenneth of Kula currently at large were the
masterminds of the unexpected/ unprovoked attack.”
Nigerian Army (NA) revealed that troops of 6
Division on a legitimate duty of protecting lives and properties of law abiding
citizens and ensuring a conducive environment for peaceful conduct of 2019
General Elections in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area (LGA) Rivers
State were attacked by some hoodlums.
The Army stated a
pre-planned attack occurred in between Charles and Bob-Manuel’s compounds in
Abonnema Town at about 1:00pm on the 23rd February 2019.
The Army headquarters said the .attackers
barricaded a major road into the town and laid an ambush in the adjoining
built-up areas from where they opened fire on our unsuspecting troops when they
attempted to remove the barricade.
Army stated that
“The gallant troops fought their way through the siege and in the process
killed six of the assailants. However, we lost a lieutenant in the
encounter.
“To this end,
the NA strongly hereby state that perpetrators of this ambush will be made to
face the full wrath of the law.”
The Nigerian Army
(NA) also responded to the allegations being by the Governor of
Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike. Some of his rancorous claims were that the
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Maj Gen Jamil Sarham purportedly
sent troops to cordon off his residence prior to the rescheduled General
Elections on the 15th of February 2019.The Governor further went on to allege
an assassination attempt on his life which he claimed was orchestrated by the
GOC 6 Division.
Nigerian Army said it is appalled that “a Governor who
should epitomize leadership and good example in all senses could descend so low
to employ smear campaign against the person of a GOC whose only responsibility
amongst other things, – is about the safety and security of lives and properties
in his Area of Responsibility.”
The Nigerian Army
declared it does not train assassins as such the institution or her personnel
cannot be involved in sending assassins to murder a state Governor as alleged
by Gov Nyesom Wike.
The further claimed
that “It is indeed no secret to the military authorities that Governor
Wike has on various occasions made attempts to compromise the integrity of the
GOC 6 Division. Having failed, despites series of overtures and monetary
pledges of millions of dollars, both in person and from cronies, it is no
surprise that the frustrated Governor has resorted to this appalling campaign
of calumny.
“One would have
thought that the resolute and uncompromising stance of Maj Gen Jamil Sarham in
the face of several kinds of mouth-watering inducements would have earned him a
commendation from any conscientious leader. Alas, this was not the case
from the embittered governor of Rivers State but rather, these slanderous
allegations”.
Despite allegations,
the Army has deemed it fit to clear the air by letting Governor Wike and
the general public at large, know that it would not be dragged into any form of
political gerrymandering concocted for the furtherance of any person’s interest
or notoriety.
As a noble institution, the NA is apolitical, neutral and
would not compromise its constitutional roles under any guise.
Additionally, the NA would like to give Governor Wike the benefit of doubt, to
within 7 days, bring forth evidence that can substantiate the bogus claims, or
he could as well, save face and keep his peace.