We Will Not Shield Any Militant, Wike Assures Military

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that his administration would not shield anybody from military operations against militants sabotaging the nation’s economy.

He said the state would rather assist the military to fish out those blowing up oil pipelines in the state.

Wike spoke on Monday at the Government House, Port Harcourt when he granted audience to the country’s Military High Command led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin.

The Chief of Defence Staff was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.

Wike stated that all Niger Delta governors oppose the use of violence to settle grievances, pointing out that the governors were billed to meet with the Vice President on June 7 to discuss and proffer solutions to the security situation in the region.

“What’s happening affects our state revenue. We shall help the military to fish out militants blowing up oil pipelines in the region,” he said.

The governor said the State Government was worried about the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta as it negatively affects development in the area.

He said, “As a government, we cannot support economic sabotage. What is going on is economic sabotage. Production is being negatively affected, with the revenue of states dwindling.

“There are ways to channel grievances and it is wrong to do what will negatively affect the people of the region.”

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