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Wike Urges LG Chairmen, Youths To Fish Out IPOB Members
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has charged the 23 local government council chairmen, and youth leaders in the state to fish out members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.
The governor has also warned that any council chairman that allows IPOB to hold processions and hoist its flag within their jurisdiction in Rivers State, risk sack.
He made these assertions during a meeting with all the 23 local government chairmen, Community Development Committees (CDCs) and youth leaders at Government House, in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
The governor described Rivers State as the most accommodating state for all Nigerians.
To buttress this, Wike stated that there has never been any historical incident of different ethnic groups clashing and killing each other in the state as has been witnessed in other parts of the country.
“We can never be against any ethnic group. We can never do that.We have lived in harmony with the Igbos, the Hausas, and the Edo people. Everybody that comes to this state; we have lived in harmony with. And so, Nigerians must commend Rivers State as a place where you have never had problem between this group and that group”, he said.
Wike, however, maintained that while the people of Rivers State believe in the unity of the country, they would not allow criminals under the aegis of a terrorist group called IPOB to continue to threaten the stability of the state.
“There is one terrorist group they call IPOB. I did not declare them terrorist group. The court declared them terrorist group! Not me. The Federal Government declared them a terrorist group. IPOB cannot use Rivers State to be a place where they will be launching attacks. If you allow that, your future, your children’s future is gone”, he said.
Infuriated by IPOB’s effontery to hoist its flag in Oyigbo, the governor directed the council chairman to ensure there was no occurrence of this treasonous act again.
“Go to Oyigbo, and see what they have done. Destroyed the court! What did the court do? See the soldiers they killed and burnt! See the policemen they killed and burnt, and then, you say people should sit and fold their arms?”
The governor, while calling for vigilance on the part of Rivers people, however, warned sternly that IPOB members should not delude themselves because Rivers State cannot be colonised or annexed by any group, particularly, while he is still the incumbent governor of the state.
He asserted that Rivers State can never be annexed to any state, to any zone.
According to him, Rivers State is Niger Delta, and will remain in Niger Delta.
He explained that while every Nigerian was allowed to reside in Rivers State, those who wish to do so must live in peace with the people of the state.
“Igbos are living and doing their businesses here, and they will continue to live and do their businesses here. We support that.
“But that terrorist group called IPOB cannot determine what happens in our state. It will never happen, and we must not allow it to happen”.
Wike charged all chairmen of councils, youth leaders, CDCs to go into their various communities and identify all those IPOB members.
He emphasised that nobody of Igbos extraction legitimately residing and doing business in the state must be harassed.
“But there are criminal elements that we must not allow, and the criminal elements are those who said they are IPOB members. The Federal Government has proscribed them, and I have banned them from operating in this state”, he said.
He called on the people to defend the territory of Rivers State and ensure that no part of the state is annexed by a criminal organisation or terrorist gang.
“We cannot allow it. All our vigilante groups must be encouraged. Everybody must be at alert. Work with the security agencies to make sure nothing called IPOB exists in this state. No procession. Not even a meeting anywhere. Identify where they hold meetings, and report them accordingly”, he directed.
In his remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Ohia Prince Obi, lauded the governor for interfacing with the youths as this would give them a sense of belonging in the affairs of the state.
The Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, Comrade Chijoke Ihunwo’s appeal to Governor Nyesom Wike for clemency for wanted Stanley Mgbere, who led IPOB members to attack the palace of the King of Onne, was rejected.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.