Chinwo in Port Harcourt
Rivers and Imo States may be on the warpath as Governor Nyesom Wike of River State has declared that his state will not recognise the amnesty granted by his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha to suspected cultists who killed 23 persons in Omoku on January 1.
At the Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday while assenting to some bills, Wike said the amnesty declared by Okorocha, would have no impact in Rivers State and that the wanted cultists who are kingpins of the Don Wanny gang would be brought to justice.
He declared that the N20 million placed on their heads still stands and that the security agencies would be empowered to bring the criminals to account for their crimes.
The Rivers State governor said the action of Okorocha was a proof of the intelligence available to the Rivers State Government that the All Progressives Congress (APC) planned to grant amnesty to wanted cultists for political reasons.
The governor berated the APC and her officials for politicising security to the disadvantage of the rest of the country.
He said: “Just yesterday, the Governor of Imo State granted amnesty to the cultists we declared wanted. These are cultists of the Don Wanny gang who killed 23 persons on New Year day.
“These are cultists who have been killing security agents. That amnesty offered by Okorocha cannot cover Rivers State. These criminal cultists are still wanted for their crimes against Rivers State and her people.â€
He stated that it was wrong to introduce politics into security affairs because nobody knows what the outcome will be in future.
“There is no need playing politics with the security of lives and property. Before Governor Okorocha granted amnesty to those who killed our people, he did not deem it fit to call me.
“They should always weigh the implications of these actions to the security of the region. Whether you are in PDP or APC, there is no need to politicise security,†Wike said.
The Rivers State governor said despite the obvious political sabotage against the security infrastructure of the state, the state government would continue to work towards improved security in the state.
