The Rivers State government has warned militant youths who are vandalising pipelines and other installations of oil companies in the Niger Delta to sheathe their swords and embrace the truce initiated by the Federal Government.
Rivers Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, made the admonition yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
She called on stakeholders to ensure a lasting solution to the endemic poverty and poor infrastructural development in the crude oil and gas-rich region and work towards upgrading the capital base of Port Harcourt like that of Abuja and Lagos, to equate it as truly the Industrial hub of Nigeria.
Harry-Banigo stated that the continuous bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta by the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups was inimical to economic, environmental and human survival, stressing that the water, land and the entire ecosystem were being polluted and destroyed.
Rivers deputy governor noted that although the vandalism of oil facilities in the Niger Delta was being perpetuated outside Rivers state, but called on parents and guardians across the region to prevail on their children and wards to shun acts that would impede the actualisation of peace and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
Harry-Banigo also said there was the need for an aggressive, pragmatic and holistic development master plan that would transform the lives of the people and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the Niger Delta, pointing out that militancy and youth restiveness would be greatly reduced, when the people of the region were gainfully engaged.
Meanwhile, the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, also yesterday inaugurated the caretaker committee chairmen of three local government areas of the state, with a charge to them to support the ongoing security drive, to rid the state of cultists.
Those inaugurated included Gbara Erelo (Khana LG council), Monday Dum-Iye (Gokana) and Adonye Kelly Diri (Opobo/Nkoro).
Wike stated that the caretaker committee chairmen had a responsibility to cooperate with security agencies to build the security architecture of their LGAs.
He noted that any of the caretaker chairmen who failed to cooperate with the security agencies would lose his appointment.
Rivers governor said: “Make sure you cooperate with the security agencies to flush out cultists. We cannot allow the cultists disturb the peace and security of the state. Enough is enough.”
Wike also disclosed that he had received security reports, which he said the security agencies would act upon, as they relate to the sponsors of the cultists.
He noted that any official of the Rivers government found to be connected to the cultists would be arrested and prosecuted.
The governor also directed the caretaker committee chairmen to ensure that they pay their workers’ monthly salaries regularly.
