A deputy commissioner of police sabotaged our effort to check the spread of Coronavirus in Rivers state - Governor Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike has alleged that a deputy commissioner of police sabotaged his government’s effort to check the spread of Coronavirus in Rivers state

Speaking in a statewide broadcast on Friday May 8, the Rivers state Governor blamed the increased cases of Coronavirus in the state on “hypocrisy” of the federal government and sabotage by security agencies.

Wike alleged that a Deputy Commissioner of Police unilaterally appropriated and exercised powers to illegally issue movement pass to individuals and companies indiscriminately, in utter contempt and direct violation of the lockdown orders of the State Government.

He said;

“Serial acts of sabotage by security operatives who allow, and in some cases, personally aid persons with “risky” COVID-19 status into the state.

“As recently as yesterday, we intercepted a lorry-load of livestock with 22 persons who bribed their ways into Rivers State from as far as Adamawa State despite the Federal Government’s claimed restriction on inter-state travels and our definitive closure of all entry routes into the State.

“Even today, we intercepted, yet, another 8 trucks with 200 persons hidden in loads of grains and being smuggled into the State from the northern parts of the country.

“Indeed, the extent of sabotage was such that, even a Deputy Commissioner of Police unilaterally appropriated and exercised powers to illegally issue movement pass to individuals and companies indiscriminately in utter contempt and direct violation of the lockdown orders of the State Government.

“And so, as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to graduate and make its way through the State, these actions, inactions and counter-actions from the security agencies are rather amplifying the risk of a public health disaster in our State.

“This being so, it has become imperative to alert the State and indeed, the entire world, of the fact that a dangerous escalation of COVID-19 pandemic in Rivers State looms large in our horizon due largely to the hypocrisy of the Federal Government and the continuous acts of willful sabotage by security agencies.”

Governor Wike commended local security guards who intercepted those he accused of breaking into Rivers state and having sinister motive. He also announced a reward of N5 million for the local guards.

Wike added;

“Truth be told, those who claim to be conveying essential food items into the State during this period of total lockdown who are up to something more sinister.

“They illegally entered the state in violation of the lockdown orders. How and who can they sell their items to when all the markets, hotels and business outfits in the state have been closed down? Let all be warned that we’ll have none of such tricks in Rivers State at this very trying period.”