In a bid to stem the rising spate of insecurity, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has placed a N30million bounty on anyone who gives useful information that will lead to the arrest of a notorious criminal, ‘Bobrisky’ who has been terrorizing Gokana Local Government Area of the State and those who killed a Director with the Rivers State Government during the Choba crisis.
Wike also banned all youth groups in the State, asserting that they have all been hijacked by cultists.
The affected youth groups include the Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM), Ogoni Youth Movement (OYM), Bonny Youth Assembly (BYA), and Ekpeye Youth Federation (EYF), among others.
Wike state that this was in line with the State Government’s resolve to tackle insecurity and do everything necessary to protect lives and property.
He announced this on Thursday when he handed over 40 patrol vans fitted with communication gadgets to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), C4I, Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Police Anti-Cultism Unit, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Eagle Crime at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
“Rivers State Government is fully prepared and will do everything required to protect lives and property. Without the protection of lives and property, there will be no governance and development.
The Governor expressed his administration’s resolve to increase support to the security agencies because of the successes recorded by Operation Sting.
He regretted that cultists have taken over youth groups across the State, necessitating the State Government to proscribe all Youth Groups.
“Anybody operating under a youth body henceforth will be arrested by security agencies. Before you contest for any youth body’s leadership, you must send the names to the DSS and Police for screening. If they are cultists, we will not allow them to operate”, he said.
Wike said that the vehicles and gunboats donated to the security agencies must be deployed to secure Rivers State.
He announced that the Rivers State Government will establish a Trust Fund to cater for the families of policemen who lose their lives while fighting crime.
In his remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura said the security agencies will use the new security vans to tackle criminals across the state.
He said that since the inauguration of Operation Sting, there has been improvement in the security of lives and property in the state. He said that security agencies will continue to dislodge criminals in all parts of the state.
On the decision of the Rivers State Government about youths groups banning. Anyway we are from the state and we know situations of such decision but may I also suggest to the government to look inward both in governance too.