Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared 19 persons wanted for operating illegal crude oil refining sites responsible for the soot pandemic in the state.
The governor has also directed the Rivers State Head of Service to query a Director in the Ministry of Energy, one Mr. Temple Amakiri, for abetting bunkering activities, and hand him over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution.
Wike, in a state-wide broadcast, yesterday, said the government was resolved to pragmatically tackle the soot pandemic by destroying and closing down all identified illegal crude oil refining sites and activities in the state.
He stated that following his 2022 New Year Message outlining measures to tackle the soot menace, the State Task Force on Illegal Street Trading raided some illegal crude oil refining sites in Port Harcourt, and arrested a number of recalcitrant persons.
“Furthermore, the following persons who have been identified as kingpins of bunkering and illegal crude oil refining activities in their communities have been declared wanted, and directed to report themselves to the state police command, to whom we have already passed their details to: ‘Mr. Azubike Amadi, OSPAC Commander, Ogbogoro community and chairman of Akpor Central OSPAC; Mr. India, of Rumuolumeni community and chairman of Oil Bunkering Association in Akpor Kingdom; Mr. Okey, who is in charge of oil bunkering in Rumuopareli; Mr. Anderson, who is in charge of oil bunkering activities in Ogbogoro community; Amadi Gift of Ogbogoro community; Azeruowa of Ogbogoro community; and Kingsley Egbula, also of Ogbogoro community.
“Also declared wanted are the following persons who are alleged to be in charge of oil bunkering activities in Isiokpo community: Mr. Kemkom Azubike, Mr. Mezu Wabali, Mr. Chigozi Amadi, Mr. Opurum Owhondah, Mr. Bakasi Obodo, Mr. Opus, Mr. Galaxi Mas, Mr. Chioma, Mr. Ogondah, Mr. Soldier, Mr. Chefo, and Nkasi.
“We have also identified those behind illegal bunkering activities in Okrika communities, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers South-East and Rivers South-West Senatorial Districts and their names would be soon published and declared wanted, if they fail to voluntarily report to the police.”
He urged residents of the state to report those involved in illegal crude oil refineries and other damnable activities to the task forces already set up at the state and local government levels for immediate action.
Wike also reaffirmed the total ban on the use of motorcycles in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt councils, which was necessitated by the collective threat they posed to the security of lives and property.
“Any person or corporate entity that requires the use of motorcycle for any lawful purposes must, therefore, first apply to the office of the governor for permit and proper documentation of the operational details and particulars of both the motorcycle and designated rider(s).
“Against this background, we are hereby issuing the final warning to all those operating motorcycles shuttles and or hawking foreign exchange along Birabi Street, Hotel Presidential, GRA Junction by Zenith Bank up to Tombia Street, to immediately leave or be arrested and prosecuted.”
The governor accused the traditional leadership, including members of Community Development Committees and youth leaders of Rumuola, Rumuogba and Okoro-nu-Odo communities of collecting money from vendors and allowing street trading activities around and under the flyovers in the communities.
“Consequently, I hereby direct the traditional leadership of Rumuola, Rumuogba and Okoro-nu-Odo communities to immediately stop all street trading activities around, in or under the flyovers in their respective domains or be deposed, arrested and prosecuted.
“Similarly, the traditional leadership of Rumuwoji Mgbuduku, Obiekwe, Nkpolu-Oroworokwo, Abali, Rebisi, Rumukalagbor-Oroworokwo and Ezimgbu communities are hereby directed to enforce the ban and ensure that no form of trading takes place around and under the flyovers located in their communities.”
Wike also placed a total ban on the use of umbrella and table trading stands in the entire old and new GRAs of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City, and Eleme councils.
According to him, government has credible evidence that most of these purported traders in front of houses were informants who monitor and pass on vital details and information on the daily movement of very important persons to their criminal collaborators.
Wike frowned at the failure of the Rumuokurushe traditional leadership to honour the terms of their undertaking not to allow any form of street trading on the Rumuokurushe market.
“Unfortunately, the Rumuokurushe traditional leadership has apparently failed to comply with or enforce this condition in that market and government will not hesitate to, again, shut it down if the ongoing breach continues unabated.”
Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has charged the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to collaborate with the other security agencies, local government chairmen and traditional rulers to fish out all those involved in illegal bunkering and artisanal refining for prosecution.
The governor accused persons engaged in illegal bunkering and artisanal refining for the soot environmental menace that was endangering the health of residents of the state.
He gave the charge at the Nigeria Police Force, Rivers State Command dinner and award night at the Police Officers’ Mess, Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
The governor, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Emeka Woke, declared that the state government has resolved to tackle those involved in crude oil theft and refining once and for all.
Wike stated that the state government was willing to provide the police and other security agencies all that was required to dislodge and end the activities of artisanal refiners in Rivers State.
According to the governor, “the state is prepared to fight them more than ever before.”
Wike narrated that since the Commissioner of Police, Mr Friday Eboka assumed duty, last year, Rivers State has witnessed peace and improved policing.
“Little wonder the crime index in the state has reduced drastically. We thought we are the only people witnessing it, but with the award you got from the wife of the Inspector General of Police, it is an eloquent testimony that what we are seeing as a state is also being observed from across the nation.”
The governor said policing in Rivers State has improved remarkably because the management of the Nigeria Police Force at the Force Headquarters and the state command, respectively, distanced themselves from politics.
“As a state, we will continue to support the security agencies in the state. Our support for security agencies is not only centred on police force. We are also extending similar gesture to the Navy, Air Force and others.
“For us, we believe the primary function of any responsible government is to protect lives and property. So, we have no option than to continue to support in providing logistics and everything that can make the security agencies in the state to function very well.
“Because we believe that if our people are safe and the life here is peaceful, there will be increase in economic activities and the Internally Generated Revenue will also go up.”
Wike commended Eboka, who is the 42nd Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, for discharging his duty professionally and not joining the league of some of his predecessors, who were posted to the state to cause turmoil and instability.
The governor announced N1million reward for each of the recipients of the Rivers State Police Command award and N10million to the command for organising the event.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Friday Eboka explained that 2021 was a remarkable year for the command because Rivers State emerged as one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria.
He thanked Almighty God for his grace and Inspector General of Police for choosing Rivers State as the venue for the launching of South-South Operation Restore Peace.
According to him, this came with the deployment of Special Forces with sophisticated equipment as well as combat helicopter to the state.
He commended Wike for being very phenomenal in the attainment of peace and security in the state.
“Since my assumption of office, the command has received more than 50 patrol vehicles fitted with modern gadgets from the state government. This gesture alone enhanced visibility policing in the state.
“Recall too, when we lost men to miscreants sometime in April, 2021, the governor did not allow us to suffer alone. He wiped the tears of the deceased families with a total sum N220 million, which means each family received the sum of N20million.
“Recall the #EndSARS saga? At the end of that saga, which led to the burning down of police stations and vehicles across the nation, the state governor did not abandon us to work under the trees. But rather, the governor constructed a storey building each for the Area Command, Oyigbo and the Divisional Police in Oyigbo.”
Highlight of the event was the conferment of Wike with an award for fighting crime in the state.
The Founder and General Overseer, Omega Power Ministry, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, was honoured for his unrelenting assistance to the State Police Command.
The recipients of the Rivers State Police Command 2021 awards are: G.I.A. Godstime Nwuju, best traffic officer; Inspector Winfrey Ini Akpan, best controller; CSP Bako Aghashim, best D.P.O; CSP Grace Wonwu, best female DPO; and the best visiting tactical team leader went to CSP Adamu.

By: Beemene Taneh