Governor Nyesom Wike has charged a divisional police officer in Rivers State with operating an illegal refinery in the state.
Wike said the officer heads the police division in the Emohua local government area of the state.
He demanded his redistricting from Rivers State.
“He must leave this state. I can’t be governor here and the security man owns an illegal refinery. No, it is not possible. The man has to go. Take it to wherever they allow refueling,” Wike said Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, at a meeting with local council presidents and heads of security agencies in the state.
Rivers State Police Commissioner Eboka Friday was at the meeting. Police have yet to comment on the governor’s indictment and his lawsuit.
Wike’s comments were contained in a statement Friday from his media assistant, Kelvin Ebiri.
The governor said it was unfortunate and unbelievable that Nigerian security officials were involved in the illegal bunkering. “I can’t believe it,” he said.
He accused the civil protection officer in charge of pipeline vandalism in the state of being a saboteur and demanded Rivers’ immediate redeployment.
Wike has repeatedly said that the soot in and around Port Harcourt is caused by the operation of illegal refineries in the state and has vowed to go after their operators.
At Friday’s meeting, the governor ordered the state’s local council presidents to go after illegal refinery operators.
‘It’s total war’
“I have called you here to tell you that it is an all-out war. Either we do it or we don’t. We cannot allow what is happening to continue. Two things: our people are dying, it is reducing our own income.
“You check the Federation Account, the states of Akwa Ibom and Delta are receiving more, why? Because these cartel boys have caused us so much trouble. So we won’t allow it,” Wike said.
“Now each president of the council must go and identify where illegal refineries are taking place. If you identify one, you get N2 million. So, go and identify as many as you can. I will pay N2 million for each. I’m going to fight this. Our people are dying and we owe our people the responsibility to protect them, to save them from a death that they never caused.
“So, you have to do it, and you have 48 hours to go and identify all the illegal refinery sites and who is running them,” the governor told the council chairs.
I am in love with Gov Wike because he does not compromise on the platter diplomacy. To him, the purpose of going to the government house supersedes every other consideration.
it is shameful that a policman that was supposed to be guarding against stealing and vandalism is the one perpetrating such dastardly acts. i commend Gov Wike on his avowed determination that the officer should leave his state. Others should learn from him.