Governor Wike to Military High Command : We will not shield any militant

Rivers State  Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared  that  nobody  will be shielded from   the military  operations  against militants sabotaging  the  nation’s  economy.

He stated that all Niger Delta  governors oppose the use of violence  to settle grievances,  pointing out  that  the  governors are billed to meet with the Vice President on 7th of  June,  2016 to discuss  and proffer  solutions  to  the  security  situation  in the region.

Speaking  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 Gabriel Olonisakin,  Governor Wike said : "What's happening affects our state revenue.  We shall help the military  to fish out militants  blowing up  oil pipelines  in the region "

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.

The  governor said  that  the  State Government  is  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. ".

He assured  the Military  High Command  that the Government and people  of  Rivers State  will support efforts to secure  the  area.

While commending  the  military  for the sacrifice  they have made in providing  security  for most parts of the state,  he urged them to  work towards improving security  in Ahoada East,  Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Areas  of the state.

Earlier,  the  Chief of  Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin said the recent  resurgence of militancy in the Niger-Delta is of serious concern to the military.

"Recent activities of the militants  have led to  the sabotage of oil and gas infrastructure", he said.

He said  economy  of the nation  is threatened  by the resurgent  militancy,  hence the need to stop the  insecurity  in the region.

General Olonisakin  urged the Rivers State Governor to reach out to his colleagues  in the Niger Delta  to resolve  the  conflicts  in the area.

He said  that  the  Military  High Command  was in the region to interface  with the leadership  of  the  Operation  Pulio Shield and other service commanders on how to put an end to criminality  in the region and protect the nation’s  economy from total collapse.