We’re Upgrading Security Infrastructure – RSG

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has stated that his administration has made more investments in the upgrade of security infrastructure than any other state government in the country.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, when he received doctors on security awareness trek following the killing of their colleague by criminals, Wike said that he remains committed to the security of lives and property in Rivers State.
Represented by the Chief of Staff, Engineer Chukwuemeka Woke, the governor said that crime and criminality have drastically reduced in the state because of the administration’s investments.
He, however, said that every society has security issues, pointing out that despite the reduction in insecurity, crime has not been totally eliminated.
He said: “The Wike administration is committed to the security of every person living and doing business in the state. That is why we have made massive investments in security.
“I challenge any state with alternative facts to come forward and declare. We will continue to support security agencies to make the state more secure.”
He commiserated with the doctors on the killing of their colleague, pointing that the administration will work with security agencies to bring the criminals to justice.
Responding, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State, Dr Datonye Alasia, said that they were on a peaceful march to draw the attention of security agencies and the state government on the death of a doctor, who lost her life to kidnappers.
He said that the state health sector will be troubled if health professionals are under threat from criminals.
Alasia also observed a growing number of hospital patients who suffered violent attacks by criminals in Rivers State.
“We have become endangered species in Rivers state. We wonder why we suddenly become targets for attacks. As doctors, we do humanitarian work. We save lives but here, we are fearing for our lives,” he said.
Other doctors involved in the protest complained about the hazards of working in an unsafe environment, with threats from cultists, robbers and kidnappers.
They warned that if the trend continues, they may resolve to abandon their duty posts at various health facilities across the state.
It would be recalled that hundreds of medical doctors had taken part in the demonstration in Port Harcourt to draw attention to the security risks they face while discharging their duties across Rivers State.
The public protest is the outcome of a meeting called by the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association to review the security situation in Rivers State and the rampant kidnapping of doctors.
The medical doctors matched from Garrison Junction on Aba Road in Port Harcourt down to Government House, to register their complaints.
The medical doctors were all dressed in black attires, mourning one of their colleagues who died in the hands of kidnappers.
The latest medical doctor to be killed by kidnappers in Rivers State was Dr Florence Onua, who was shot last Friday and died on Saturday at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.