The allegations by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that some security officers own illegal refineries have jolted the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Wike had given local government chairmen 48 hours to compile a list of illegal refineries’ owners and operators in their domains.
He accused a particular Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and personnel of the NSCDC anti-vandal unit of owning illegal refineries.
The governor said: “It’s unfortunate for this country how security people will be involved in illegal bunkering. I can’t believe it, Mr. CP,
“I thank you for transferring the DPO in Rumuji, who owns a refinery.
“But the man must leave here, not transferred. He must leave this state. I can’t be Governor here and security man owns an illegal refinery. No, it is not possible…the man has to go. Take him to wherever they allow bunkering.”
On the NSCDC personnel, he said: “Transfer the man and tell him to leave. He is a complete saboteur. I mean, how can security men be the one involved in this. What kind of country are we?”
It was gathered that the accusations forced the police and the NSCDC to take action against the persons named by the governor.
It was learnt that the DPO was immediately redeployed while a panel headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police was inaugurated to investigate the matter.
Confirming the development in a statement, the acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Grace Iringe-Koko described the allegations as disturbing.
The statement said: “The Rivers State Police Command, received with concern, the news making the rounds that a Divisional Police Officer in the state, is involved in illegal bunkering activities.
“The officer was immediately redeployed and a panel headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police inaugurated to investigate the matter.
“The outcome shall be made public and the officer punished appropriately if the allegations are confirmed.”
The statement reiterated the commitment of the command to support the state government in its war against illegal oil bunkering and assured the public that the command would not spare any indicted person no matter how highly placed.
The Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, at the weekend disbanded the anti-vandal unit of the Rivers Command following the allegation.
A statement in Abuja by the Director Public Relations of the Corps, Olusola Odumosu, said the Audi received with shock and dismay, the allegations levelled against the anti-vandal unit by Wike.
The statement said: “Worried by this disappointing development, the CG has ordered the suspension of the head of the anti-vandal team and the disbandment of the unit with immediate effect, pending the outcome of an independent enquiry set up to look into the weighty allegations levelled against the unit by the governor.”
The NSCDC boss also disclosed that the extant rules and regulations guiding the Corps operations and the general ethics of the service requires a complete display of total discipline, integrity, incorruptibility, transparency and accountability on the part of every personnel, hence, the reason for this immediate action”.
He directed the Acting DCG in charge of investigation and intelligence to summon all the personnel involved to the National Headquarters, Abuja for further investigation.
Also yesterday, the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), backed Wike’s battle against illegal refineries.
Speaking at the weekend in Port Harcourt during the 50th anniversary dinner and award night of the Port Harcourt Polo Club, he said Wike’s effort should be complemented by all stakeholders in the region.
Dikio believes illegal refineries were not the only cause of the environmental devastation in the region, insisting that other harmful practices were also responsible for polluting the environment.
He said: “I commend the Rivers State Governor, Wike, for taking on the issue of illegal oil refineries also known as kpofire head-on. But a lot of work still needs to be done.
“Kpofire is not the only pollutant and so individually and collectively what are we doing, especially corporate organizations to reduce unwanted emissions into our environment”?
Dikio also urged the people of the Niger Delta to stop bickering over the allotted percentage in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), saying opportunity would be created for future negotiation.
“I will say that instead of quarrelling about the percentage, we should be talking about what to do with the percentage we got, build on it and we can have another discussion after that,” Dikio said.
While reinforcing the PAP’s Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM), model, Dikio said in the next 10 years, the Niger Delta should have a critical mass that would make people of the region competitive in all spheres.
He said: “We’re looking for a partnership with businesses that can train these ex-agitators and give them the required skills for employment in their businesses.
“We in PAP will pay for the training. It’s a partnership because we want those who train them to guarantee that they will employ them.
“We are doing this which is a departure from the old model which only train people and put them back in the bloated unemployment market. We feel that is a waste of money and everybody’s time. It increases the anxiety level in the economy and the polity”.
The Chief Host, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, said the game of Polo was catching up in the South-South noting that contrary to what many people thought, Polo was no longer an elite game.
On his part, President of the Port Harcourt Polo Club, Chukwudi Dimkpa, said the club from a humble beginning in 1972 had grown to become the preferred Polo club in Nigeria and Africa.
A high point of the event was the presentation of awards and the launching and fundraising of the Arena Polo Turf and Children Riding School.