Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has lamented the destruction caused by suspected members of the disbanded Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the guise of the #EndSARS protest saying the outlawed group killed six soldiers and four policemen in Rivers.

The governor in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke on Friday when the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Wike said EndSARS protest was peaceful in Rivers until members of the outlawed IPOB hijacked the demonstration and took laws into their hands.

He said: “I don’t support criminality. IPOB killed six army officers, four policemen, burnt police stations and court buildings. This is Rivers State. Go to Oyigbo and see the level of destruction. Now the State Government will be rebuilding those facilities.

“Those who don’t understand our actions are saying we are fighting the Igbo. How will they allow criminals to speak for them when there are intelligent Igbo people to speak for them?

“If they (IPOB) are aggrieved, instead of channelling it to the right quarters, they go and kill innocent people and destroy public places”.

The governor queried the country’s intelligence system and wondered why it failed to reveal howbrye youths organised themselves for the protest without a leader.

“Now look at what has happened. There was EndSARS protest across the country. Nobody knows how the youths were able to organise themselves without a leader.

“Up until now, intelligence can’t even know how they did it and who’s behind them. Without good intelligence, how can Nigeria even defeat Boko Haram?” he queried.

The governor challenged members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to always hold public office holders accountable to the people.

He said that in time past, the Nigerian Press was a strong voice and conscience of the society, but wondered what has whittled down their powers.

He said: “What I have seen of you is that you praise us and give us award because of relationship or friendship. That’s not the way it should be. Challenge us; the people in authority and we will sit up to our responsibilities. We will have no choice than to perform and serve the people as it should

The governor in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke on Friday when the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Wike said EndSARS protest was peaceful in Rivers until members of the outlawed IPOB hijacked the demonstration and took laws into their hands.

He said: “I don’t support criminality. IPOB killed six army officers, four policemen, burnt police stations and court buildings. This is Rivers State. Go to Oyigbo and see the level of destruction. Now the State Government will be rebuilding those facilities.

“Those who don’t understand our actions are saying we are fighting the Igbo. How will they allow criminals to speak for them when there are intelligent Igbo people to speak for them?

“If they (IPOB) are aggrieved, instead of channelling it to the right quarters, they go and kill innocent people and destroy public places”.

The governor queried the country’s intelligence system and wondered why it failed to reveal howbrye youths organised themselves for the protest without a leader.

“Now look at what has happened. There was EndSARS protest across the country. Nobody knows how the youths were able to organise themselves without a leader.

“Up until now, intelligence can’t even know how they did it and who’s behind them. Without good intelligence, how can Nigeria even defeat Boko Haram?” he queried.

The governor challenged members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to always hold public office holders accountable to the people.

He said that in time past, the Nigerian Press was a strong voice and conscience of the society, but wondered what has whittled down their powers.

He said: “What I have seen of you is that you praise us and give us award because of relationship or friendship. That’s not the way it should be. Challenge us; the people in authority and we will sit up to our responsibilities. We will have no choice than to perform and serve the people as it should be.

“My support for you has to do with the fact that you are supposed to tell the truth of what is happening in Nigeria.

“There was a time you were exposing the ills of society. If not for you certain things will not be known. Assume your role, grow strong again and speak out”.

Wike said that the country was in a difficult period in its history and NGE could not shy away from performing its duties without fear or favour.

“If when I castigated the operations of SARS you added your voice, who knows what good that would have achieved,” he said.

In his speech, the National President of NGE, Mustapha Isha, said Wike had remained consistent in his support to the guild.

He said: “You are the only government that has sponsored our annual conference back to back. Even if we have a new leadership, that will not affect the friendship we share with you.

“Anytime I come to Port Harcourt, there is always a new project on-going. Flyovers are being constructed, existing roads are being expanded, and new roads being built.

“This is your second term and you’re maintaining what you said that you’ll work until the last day of your tenure. You have zeal and passion in handling issues of Rivers state, from covid-19 to issues of security.

“Projects don’t hide, even your political opponents will see them. They may murmur, but they will use them. Your excellency, keep up with your good job”.

The members of the guild later accompanied Wike on project tour of the Rebisi Flyover, Real Madrid Football Academy and the Mother and Child Specialist Hospital.

https://thenationonlineng.net/ipob-killed-6-soldiers-4-policemen-in-rivers-says-wike/

wonderful

Ok

sarahkom:
wonderful

2daful

I taught Wike was a gentleman,so he was saying that it was ipob than cause the protest to be violent,no it was ipob than instigate violence in the whole country,anuofia,what about those that were killed by the police and army,wicked leaders.

Speechlesss
Mr Wike Weldone sir

edochie12:
I taught Wike was a gentleman,so he was saying that it was ipob than cause the protest to be violent,no it was ipob than instigate violence in the whole country,anuofia,what about those that were killed by the police and army,wicked leaders.

he wants to protect his state from the terrorists.

How will a so called most intelligent tribe allow Nnamdi Kanu to paint them black in front of everyone n also cause trouble in their name n when it's time to dance to the music they start looking for sympathy.

It's like 5 people standing in a place n one particular trouble maker is shouting "soldiers if them born una mama well come here we will finish u"....n d remaining 4 people didn't say anything.

when soldiers run enter them the remaining 4 begin lament,where were u when d loud mouth was bringing trouble for u.

that u are silent in the face of provocation means u support it

Gbenga adeyinka grandson said he will kill Igbos with chemical n every Yoruba man stood up n said no meaning we don't support him.

The blood of the 158 Northerners that were killed in Oyingbo is on the neck of IPOB..

IPOB killed 158 Northerners.... But the government, being a matured one, are trying to cover it up to discourage reprisal attack.

Unik3030:
How will a so called most intelligent tribe allow Nnamdi Kanu to paint them black in front of everyone n also cause trouble in their name n when it's time to dance to the music they start looking for sympathy.

It's like 5 people standing in a place n one particular trouble maker is shouting "soldiers if them born una mama well come here we will finish u"....n d remaining 4 people didn't say anything.

when soldiers run enter them the remaining 4 begin lament,where were u when d loud mouth was bringing trouble for u.

that u are silent in the face of provocation means u support it

Gbenga adeyinka grandson said he will kill Igbos with chemical n every Yoruba man stood up n said no meaning we don't support him.

They will all cry

it shall never be well with so called human rights and UN , so the army and the policemen are not human beings ?

I thought of the whole thing, and realised that if I should say something ,despite the fact that the whole thing looks like I should just decide to relate the entire happening and come to conclusion that I really don't have anything to say

Officialgarri:
The blood of the 158 Northerners that were killed in Oyingbo is on the neck of IPOB..

IPOB killed 158 Northerners.... But the government, being a matured one, are trying to cover it up to discourage reprisal attack.

spreading fake news is bad

Mynd44 lalasticlala seun oam4j Justwise mukina2
rule 8

don't allow nairaland to be a tool for war

I don't think dis is a good way to solve this issue. Killing can't be D best option.

& please those who are saying IPOB members are fighting for a man in UK. Then who are D military fighting for? Is D man not in Abuja enjoying himself under AC?

Biafrans be waisting their time. They should go and fight in the east. Rivers can never be part of their imaginary country.

misano:
I don't think dis is a good way to solve this issue. Killing can't be D best option.

& please those who are saying IPOB members are fighting for a man in UK. Then who are D military fighting for? Is D man not in Abuja enjoying himself under AC?

See this one. It will never be well with Nnamdi Kanu for what he has done to una sense.

Chai

peacekante:


See this one. It will never be well with Nnamdi Kanu for what he has done to una sense.

Chai

If IPOB members are to reason like U, U must first stop & reason urself.

I am not IPOB & I don't support NK. Killing is not D answer.

Please divide this country for peace and justice to reign oh God.

The blood shed in this country is more than enough to make even devil speech less.



However, Buhari, a good man with bad intentions.

Officialgarri:
The blood of the 158 Northerners that were killed in Oyingbo is on the neck of IPOB..

IPOB killed 158 Northerners.... But the government, being a matured one, are trying to cover it up to discourage reprisal attack.

Stop spreading fake news, i confirmed this isn't true

But if it was true that would mean that it was 158 killers being killed, northerners kill for religon so why should we care if killers are being killed, if you guys weren't killed you would have killed others, we should be thanking them