….as Wike redeems N200M pledge to families of slain security agents
The general officer commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Orlu Irefin, has dispelled reports of indiscriminate killing of people in Oyigbo, Rivers State, describing it as fake news.
He said this on Tuesday while receiving cheques presented by the governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike, to families of security operatives killed by an alleged clash with agents of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Oyigbo.
He urged Nigerians to disregard “fake news in social media on the activities of the Army in Oyigbo, emphasing that “action of the Army in the area is within the ambit of the law and rules of engagement”, according to a statement issued by the special assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, on Wednesday.
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, had earlier presented cheques of N20 million each to families of the ten security personnel allegedly killed by members of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) in Oyigbo Local Government.
According to the press statement, this is in fulfilment of the pledge he made last week during a visit to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police.
The beneficiaries of the N200 million donation are the four policemen and six soldiers killed by IPOB members in Oyigbo.
At the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike commiserated with the Nigerian Army, the widows and families of the 6 soldiers killed by IPOB.
He said Rivers State Government will ensure that the criminal elements who killed the soldiers and cart away their arms and ammunition are arrested and prosecuted.
“The governor made a pronouncement that he will give a token sum of N20 million to each of the widows of the slain soldiers. So, we are here to fulfil that promise to give cheques to the widows so that they can be able to survive in the absence of their breadwinners,” he said
In his remarks, the general officer commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Orlu Irefin, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and the entire Nigerian Army for the kind gesture to the widows of the slain soldiers.
He dispelled fake news in social media on the activities of the Army in Oyigbo, emphasising that action of the Army in the area is within the ambit of the law and rules of engagement.
At the State Police Command, Governor Wike said the gesture is in fulfilment of his earlier promise to alleviate the plight of the widows and their children.
Represented by the secretary to the state government, Dr. Tammy Wennike Danagogo, the governor described the murder of the security personnel as unacceptable and should be condemned by every right-thinking Nigerian.
Governor Wike told the Commissioner of Police that the government will not tolerate any terrorist group like IPOB in the state or allow them to kill any innocent citizen, particularly policemen and soldiers who are defending and protecting citizens of the state.
“As a governor who matches his words with action, he has sent us to come and redeem that promise and to present the cheques of 20 Million each to the widows of the four police officers killed by IPOB,” the commissioner stated.
The governor assured the state commissioner of police that the state will always stand with the police to fight crime.
In his response, the commissioner of police, Mr. Joseph Mukan, on behalf of the inspector general of police, Mohammed Adamu, thanked Governor Wike for fulfilling his promise.
He said the police have recovered some arms and arrested some persons who have made confessional statements. According to him, 22 persons have been charged to court.
Danagogo was accompanied by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim and Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs. Inime Aguma.