Wike To FG: Revisit Recruitment Regime Of Security Agencies

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA

Rivers State Governor, Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, has called on the Federal Government to take a critical look at the recruitment processes of security agencies to mitigate alleged issues of human rights abuses by security operatives.

Wike made the call on Tuesday when the Presidential Investigating Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligation and Rules of Engagement, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, expressed the hope that the panel will fashion out a sustainable mechanism to deal with issues of human rights abuses by security agencies.

He stated that it is unfortunate that across the country there have been alleged cases of brutality and human rights abuses by security agencies because of the activities of a few bad eggs, noting that in Rivers State the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has terrorised the citizenry to such an extent that the people are more afraid of SARS than armed robbers and kidnappers.

The governor further stated that the electoral rights of the Rivers people were undermined by security agents during the last election and expressed the hope that indicted persons will be made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent.

He said, “You will get memoranda from us about the undermining of the electoral act by security Agencies. There is an urgent need to look at the recruitment processes, are they qualified? Are they patriotic? Do they have professional ethics? These are questions that are begging for answers.”

The governor said he believes so much in the unity of this country and will not support any secessionist agenda because God in his infinite wisdom has put Nigeria together as one and will continue to remain so.

He stated that the state is very peaceful because his administration has empowered the security agencies with the necessary logistics support to ensure the safety of the citizenry, noting that the State Boundary Commission and the relevant ministries and parastatals are also working round the clock to promote peaceful coexistence in the State.

Earlier, Chairman of the Presidential Investigating Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human rights Obligation and Rules of Engagement, Hon. Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, had informed the governor that they have received memoranda from various stake holders and are now in Port Harcourt for the public sitting of the South South Zone.

Georgewill stated that the panel after successfully sitting in Abuja for the North Central and Maiduguri in the North East will sit between the 25th and 28th of September, 2017 and called on the people of the South South States to avail themselves the opportunity to make presentations.

Culled from www.leadership.ng

One week after Wike’s allegation, court convicts five SARS policemen of extrajudicial killing

Ibrahim Idris, Inspector General of Police

By Opemipo Adeniyi

A fortnight ago, Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, told a gathering in Port-Harcourt that the Nigerian Police were sabotaging all his efforts at improving security in the state.

He specifically accused the SARS of perpetrating the robberies and kidnappings in the state. But, Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of Police, described the allegations as “nonsense”.

Less that two weeks after Wike’s claim, five members of the squad have been found guilty of extrajudicial killing.

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Friday held that the SARS officials, led by one Samuel Chigbu, arrested 28-year-old Michael Akor and his friend, Michael Igwe, in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state on June 22, 2009, only for their bodies to be found in a nearby bush the next day.

Adolphus Enebeli, the presiding judge, also ordered the Nigeria Police to pay a N50 million compensation to the families of the victims.

He noted that no investigation or trial was carried out by the security agents before killing the two young graduates contrary to the laws of the land.

The policemen had argued that the two Michaels were members of a group of hoodlums who had engaged the police in a gun battle and were hit by bullets during the crossfire, but the judge dismissed their explanation, insisting that it was no coincidence that the two victims were hit at the same part of their bodies.

Chigbu and the four other SARS operatives had since been dismissed from the Police Force after the incident. They are also facing murder charges before Justice Margaret Opara of the State High Court in Port Harcourt.

Johnson Ejekwu, counsel to the late victims, told journalists after the judgement that he would have preferred a death sentence for the convicted ex-SARS operatives to the N50 million compensation.

Ejekwu, however, urged relevant authorities to intervene in the extrajudicial killings which are still being carried out by SARS in the state.

Catherine Akor, mother of one of the deceased, lamented that no amount of compensation would be enough to make up for the loss of her son.

She said her husband’s health had deteriorated since the death of their son and that he has suffered severe memory loss.

Culled from www.naijanews.com

We’ll Revive Health Sector – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that his administration will sustain the revival of the state’s secondary healthcare facilities across the state.

The governor also called on political office holders to invest in their respective constituencies as a means of empowering their communities.

Commissioning the reconstructed General Hospital Abua yesterday, Governor Wike said that all health facilities abandoned by the immediate past administration will be completed to ensure that Rivers people have access to quality healthcare.

The governor said that the administration is working on completing the Mother and Child Hospital, Port Harcourt, Zonal Hospitals at Degema, Bori and Etche.

”All the hospitals being constructed or reconstructed were abandoned. They were in a sorry state of abandonment, despite the funds that accrued to the state. We have started the process to complete the abandoned Zonal Hospitals and the Mother and Child Hospital.

We promised the people that we will reconstruct this hospital and we have delivered on our promise. We don’t make promises and start giving flimsy excuses”, Wike said.

Governor Wike urged leaders to promote peace in their communities in order to create the right environment for the execution of meaningful projects.

He called on Rivers people to stand up in defence of their mandate, irrespective of the antics of the ruling party.

” You must be vigilant to stop any form of political robbery. Stop any action that will lead to the robbery of our votes,” he said.

The governor commended the member representing Abua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Mrs Betty Apiafi for equipping the General Hospital, Abua.

In her remarks, the member representing Abua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Mrs Betty Apiafi said the reconstruction of the General Hospital, Abua has rekindled the hope of the people.

She thanked the Rivers State Governor for remembering the people of Abua/Odual Local Government Area, who were forgotten by the immediate past administration.

Giving a project description, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs Caroline Wali said that the 60-bed hospital would go a long way to address the health needs of the people.

Thousands of Abua people celebrated the reconstruction of the General Hospital Abua. Governor Wike also announced the construction of Ekago-Ogboloma-Adada Road in the area.

www.thetidenewsonline.com

Wike releases Armoured Personnel Carriers to Police to tackle kidnapping

Governor Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that his administration has handed over four armoured personnel carriers to the Nigerian Police to tackle cases of kidnapping on two highways in the state.

The governor also stated that requisite logistics and funding have been provided for security agencies to man different routes outside Port Harcourt to protect the citizenry.

Speaking in Port Harcourt on Friday, Governor Wike explained that though the State Government does not control the security agencies, it has invested massively in the strengthening of the state security architecture.

He said that the new trend of kidnappers attacking vehicles on roads outside Port Harcourt will be addressed.

Governor Wike said: “We have released four armoured personnel carriers to the Police as a way of strengthening their response capacity along roads outside Port Harcourt.

“Because of the strong security network within Port Harcourt City, these criminals now operate on some routes outside Port Harcourt. We have agreed with the Police that these armoured personnel carriers be strategically deployed to check highway kidnapping .

“We have also provided additional patrol vehicles to the security agencies for motorised patrols on major state and federal highways for the protection of those who use the roads.”

The governor called for the institutionalization of State Police for the better handling of security challenges in parts of the country. He assured the people of Rivers State that his administration will continue to work for the promotion of security for the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/wike-releases-armoured-personnel-carriers-police-tackle-kidnapping/

Rivers orders release of another N100m to European Union for water project

OYINKARI PATRICK

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State made last minute order for release of another N100 million to the counterpart fund with the European Union (EU) on its Niger Delta water support scheme.

Wike made the order in the presence of a delegation that came to remind him that the deadline for the scheme involving two local council areas was at hand, called the RSG/EU NSDP.

Water supply has been on the freeze in the state capital and most of the 23 local council areas for years and the last scheme sponsored by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) has been stalled.

Last week, it was revealed that the Rivers State government had earlier released the first tranche of counterpart fund of N100 million to the EU partners. The two benefiting local government areas are Akuku-Toru and Opobo-Nkoro (covering Opobo/Nkoro made up of Opobo, Nkoro and Kalaibiama; and Akuku-Toru made up of Abonnema, Kula and Abissa.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the EU counsellor Nigeria, Kurt Cornelis to the Government House, Port Harcourt, last week, Gov Wike noted that the fact that the state government paid the first tranche of 50 percent proved its commitment to the project.

He said: “I have given the authority that by tomorrow the second tranche of N100 million be paid. Be rest assured that whatever needs to be done would be done. I commend the EU for this programme. We will never be a state that will be backwards in water and sanitation projects.”

The governor urged the implementers of the Niger Delta Support Programme component three to be transparent as they award contracts for the projects. “Water and sanitation remains key because they are close to the health of our communities. After this project, we expect the EU to give the state more grants, so that we can extend this to more local government areas.”

Earlier, Cornelis called for firm commitment from the state government on the payment of the remaining 50 percent counterpart fund. According to him, the payment was required to determine the scope of the programme. He said that contracts for the programme would be signed on October 26, 2017.

He said: “In principle, we need confirmation of that payment, if we are to carry out 100 percent of the works. We need to take a decision today about the final scope of projects in Rivers State “.

culled from www.businessdayonline.com