Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has denied speculations that he ordered military men to kill Igbo residents in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state.
This follows claims on social media to the position emanating from reports of alleged extra-judicial killings and abuse of human rights by soldiers deployed to the local government.
Recall that the Rivers state governor declared a 24-hour curfew in Oyigbo on Wednesday, October 21, following the outbreak of violence trailing the EndSARS protest which led to the killing of some soldiers and police officers.
After blaming the unrest on members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Wike on Wednesday, October 28, signed an executive order to enforce the ban on the group and its activities in the state.
However, reacting to the speculation on social media, Wike said he never ordered soldiers to kill people in Oyigbo.
Speaking during an interview on Monday, November 2, he denied having any hands in the killings. The governor said he ordered “security agencies”, not specifically the army, to bring to justice to any member of the group that disrupts the peace in the state.
He said: “The issue of people saying I sent soldiers to Oyigbo to kill Igbo people is balderdash; It is completely a none issue. Have I even directed police one day? I have no command over the police so how will I now begin to direct the army? Wike accuses IPOB of plotting to disrupt Rivers govt project.
“I said security agencies, I never said the military, are to make sure this ban on IPOB is maintained and that they should not allow the activities of IPOB, anywhere in any of the local governments.”
The Rivers state governor said he has no regret regarding the actions he took against IPOB members in the south-south state.
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