Governor Wike, Army Trade Blames Over Killings In Abonnema

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.