For the first time since the incident occurred, the Rivers
State Government has finally condemned the attack on the Hausa community by
members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB at Oyigbo Local Government
area of the state.
Governor Nyesom Wike in a state-wide broadcast said he is
concerned about the activities of IPOB members in Rivers state.
Governor Wike also stressed that Rivers state is in total
support of the corporate existence of the Nigerian state adding that, his
administration will not tolerate any attack by any group on other Nigerians
living in any part of the State .
The Governor also re-iterated his position on the activities
of officers and men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS whom he accused of
sabotaging security of the state.
Governor Wike, however, called on members of the general
public to be vigilant and protect themselves from the activities of SARS in
Rivers State.
“The Rivers State Government is seriously concerned with the
recent activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB),particularly the
attack on Nigerian citizens living in Rivers State.
“Rivers people fully subscribe to Nigeria’s corporate
existence and its indivisibility.
“As a people we shall continue to support the unity and
peaceful co-existence of all ethnic nationalities and work towards actualizing
our collective aspirations for a just, inclusive and progressive nation.
“Rivers State belongs to all those who live in it. We
heartily welcome any Nigerian who wishes to reside here and go about with his
or her lawful businesses. Therefore, we shall not tolerate any attack by any
group on other Nigerians living in Oyigbo or any other part of the State. We
warn trouble makers those who are bent on causing violence on others to steer
clear of Rivers territory.
“For months on end, we have been receiving reports
fromtraumatized victims who had been robbed of theirs valuables by SARS
operatives under the guise of conducting searches on thevictims.
They employ several malevolent methods, including planting
illicit drugs on their unsuspecting victims as bargainingchip or forcefully
taking them to ATM boots to collect specifiedamount of money as ransom for
their freedom.
“Although the veracity of these allegations can only be
fully established through an independent probe, the recent killing of aSARS
operative while carrying out a kidnap operation by the Inspector General of
Police’s Special Squad clearly lends credence to SARS direct involvement in
criminal activities across the State.
Recall that the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris
had described the allegation by Governor Nyesom Wike against the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad as “nonsense”.
By Seun Opejobi
