Wike Suspends LG Chairmen In Rivers

The three chairmen were suspended over their failure to attend a special security town hall meeting.

The three council suspended by the governor include: Oye Igeniwari (Abua/Odual), Eniton Iyalla (Ahoada-West) and Ikashi Douglas Umegbewe (Ahoada-East).

Speaking at the meeting which comes more than 10 days after unknown gunmen killed over 25 people, Wike, who was on his first visit to Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area, directed security agencies to clampdown on cult activities and violent crimes.

He stated that the meeting was aimed at restoring peace to Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni, Abua/Odual, Ahoada East and Ahoada West local government areas of the state.

While stressing that the insecurity in the four local government areas had nothing to do with politics, Wike pointed out that the meeting, which had in attendance security service commanders and the commissioner for police, was a move to stem the tide of cult-related killings, kidnapping, armed robbery and communal clashes in the other local government areas.

He ordered the security agencies to always take appropriate actions against those who shield cultists, kidnappers and armed robbers in the four local government areas.

He said, “Nobody is happy. I am not happy. The service commanders are not happy. These cultists and criminals are not from Lagos, Kaduna or Ebonyi. They are indigenes of these communities and the people know them. Therefore, everyone must cooperate with the security agencies to resolve these security challenges.

“We must put an end to the ugly situation in these four local government areas. Enough is enough. We cannot allow these criminals to kill innocent people.”