Wike maintained that the state belonged
to all and would not tolerate a situation where IPOB members would
attack citizens from other parts of Nigeria.
Speaking during a state-wide broadcast
on Friday, the governor explained that Rivers believe in the corporate
existence of Nigeria.
He said, “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 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 troublemakers, who are bent on causing
violence on others to steer clear of Rivers territory.
“Nobody should take our hospitality and
peaceful disposition for weakness as we are capable of dealing
decisively with any situation that threatens peace and serenity in the
state. We call on Rivers people to be vigilant and not to allow
themselves to be used by anybody to foment trouble in our State.”
Wike, however, urged residents of the
state not hesitate to report any suspicious character or movement within
their vicinity to security agencies, promising that every situation
would be dealt with.
He appealed to security agents to
exercise restraint and conform with the rules of engagement while
responding to provocative acts.
“In as much as we may share common
concerns about the structural problems of the country, we believe that
dialogue and non-violence remain the best ways to resolve contending
political issues.
“We therefore pray the Federal
Government to initiate meaningful national dialogue to peacefully
resolve the structural challenges that are threatening Nigeria’s
stability and progress.
“In the same vein, we urge the security
agencies to exercise maximum restraint and obey international rules of
engagement and best practice while responding to provocative acts from
ill-advised groups,” the governor stressed.
Wike further claimed that the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad was always planting hard drugs on innocent citizens
with the aim of incriminating them and added that for several months,
the state government had been receiving reports from traumatised victims
robbed of their valuables by SARS operatives under the guise of
conducting searches.
“They employ several malevolent methods,
including planting illicit drugs on their unsuspecting victims as
bargaining chip or forcefully taking them to ATM boots to collect
specified amount of money as ransom for their freedom.
“Furthermore, while the noticeable
increase of kidnapping incidents along the East-West Road and the
Owerri-Port Harcourt Road are worrisome, some of the rescued victims
have reportedly pointed SARS operatives as the ones that are responsible
for most of kidnappings along those roads.
“Although the veracity of these
allegations can only be fully established through an independent probe,
the recent killing of a SARS 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.”
The governor expressed his
administration’s commitment to work together with security agencies,
including the police with a view to guaranteeing the safety of lives and
property across the state despite the deliberate obstacles from SARS
operatives.
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