Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has signed an executive order reinforcing the ban on the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and its activities in the state.
Governor Wike, who announced the measure in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday night, said while Rivers State remains home to all tribes and ethnic groups, his administration will not tolerate the presence of IPOB and whatever it stands for in the state.
The last couple of days have seen members of the banned IPOB engage in an orgy of violence that has resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property in some parts of Rivers State.
Governor Wike is not happy that the hard-earned peace in the state is being disrupted by some dangerous elements.
And while appreciating the enormous contributions of nonindigenes, the Governor said that the state would not tolerate any individual or group that tries to violate the peace and endanger lives and property under any guise.
Governor Wike said he has directed security agencies and the chairmen of all the 23 local government areas of the state to fish out and resolutely deal with any IPOB member found in any community in line with the executive order and other legal instruments.
In a bid to restore sanity and enhance the free flow of traffic in the state, the governor said he would soon set up a task force to enforce the ban on street trading and illegal motor parks.
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But in the interim, Governor Wike has approved the ban on the operations of tricycles popularly known as “Keke Napep” on all major roads in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
The Governor also used his statewide broadcast to again assure the people of his administration’s commitment to delivering on its promise to make Rivers State safer, more secure, and better.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma