Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has sacked his Special Assistant on Illegal Street Trading and Motor Parks, Bright Amaewhule, and also dissolved the Taskforce on Illegal Street Trading and Motor Parks.

Bright Amaewhule, a strong ally of the Governor, was a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and President General of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI).

The decision of the Governor comes amidst widespread uproar over incessant cases of skirmishes between the taskforce and business people and residents of Port Harcourt, the State capital.

Concerns have been raised severally by stakeholders that the taskforce has done more harm than good to the efforts of the Nyesom Wike led administration in the State to achieve ease of doing business, especially, in the State capital.

The State Commissioner for information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim announced the decision of the Governor today.

Earlier today, there was a fracas involving the taskforce in the Rumueme axis of the city where the taskforce was said to have been allegedly attacked by irate youths who reportedly destroyed one of the Toyota Hilux vans being used by them.

Eyewitnesses say trouble started when the taskforce team rammed into a Toyota saloon car damaging the driver’s side of the car while chasing another vehicle said to have breached the illegal parking rules of the State.

Kristina Reports learnt that the female occupant of damaged vehicle, who was said to be a Police officer, may not be able to walk again as a result of the accident. She was instantly taken to an undisclosed medical facility where she is receiving treatment.

The taskforce members reportedly ran for cover for fear of being lynched by the angry mob that gathered at the Agip Roundabout, where the incident occurred.

In the government’s statement, members of the taskforce were directed to return their identity cards and operational vehicles in their custody to the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) not later than 4p.m tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12, 2020.

The statement disclosed that “they will be paid their salaries as they return the vehicles and Identity Cards,” adding that “government will reconstitute the Taskforce after proper orientation and training”.