Wike demands transfer of DPO for operating illegal refinery, offers Rivers LGA chairmen N2m each to identify operators

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike has directed the 23 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen in the state to provide a comprehensive list of illegal refineries and their operators within their jurisdiction.

This is just as the governor told the state Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday, to redeploy a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) alleged to be operating an illegal refinery in the state.

Governor Wike gave the ultimatum at a meeting with the council chairmen, heads of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Navy, police, the Directorate of State Service (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Government House, Port Harcourt, Friday.

The governor challenged the council chairmen to prove that they are not complicit in the business of illegal refinery ‘that has continued to threaten the health of Rivers residents and the national economy.’

Wike stated that as a responsible government, it will be unwise to do nothing to safeguard residents of the state from the death that is forced upon them by criminally-minded operators of artisanal refineries.

“Now, every council chairman must go and identify where illegal refineries are taking place. If you identify one, you get N2m (two million naira). So, go and identify as many as you can. I will pay N2m for each one. And I am going to fight against this. Our people are dying and we owe our people the responsibility to protect them, to save them from death they never caused.

“So, you must, and you’re given 48 hours to go and identify all illegal refineries sites, and those who are in charge of them.

Wike emphasised that any of the council chairmen who is afraid to join in the fight against these criminals operating the illegal refineries should be ready to resign, as, according to him, part of their social contract with their people is also to protect them and stop any illegal economy practices in their domains.

“I’ve called you here to tell you that it’s a total war.  It is either we do it or we don’t do it. We cannot allow what is going on to continue. Two things; our people are dying, two, it’s shortening our own revenue.

“You check from the Federation Account, Akwa Ibom and Delta States are getting more, why?  Because these boys of the cartel have caused so much problems for us. So we will not allow it,” the governor said.

Wike, who also carpeted security agencies for the role some of their personnel have played in aiding and providing cover to the operators of the illegal refineries in the state, urged the State Police Commissioner, Eboka Friday, to redeploy out of the state a particular DPO in Emohua Local Government Area who operates an illegal refinery in the area.

“It’s unfortunate for this country how security people will be involved in illegal bunkering. I can’t believe it. Mr. CP, I thank you for transferring the DPO in Rumuji, who owns a refinery. But the man must leave here, not transferred. He must leave this state.

“I can’t be Governor here and security man owns an illegal refinery. No, it is not possible. The man has to go. Take him to wherever they allow bunkering,” Wike said.

The governor further directed the CP to immediately arrest Chief W. J. Wocha, Fubara Ohaka, and chief Promise Ezekwe, who have been fingered for operating illegal refineries deep inside the forest of Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area.

The governor further urged Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State command, to immediately transfer its personnel in charge of vandalization of pipelines in the state.

“Transfer the man, and tell him to leave. He is a complete saboteur. I mean, how can security men be the one involved in this. What kind of country are we?”

Governor urged the DSS to profile persons involved in the heinous illegal refining business and make the list available to him, as he a assured of acting on the list.