Traders flood Port Harcourt streets hours after Wike dissolved task force

Traders have flooded the streets of Port Harcourt hours after the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, dissolved the state’s task force on illegal street trading and motor parks.

There have been persistent outcries over the high-handedness of the task force, which has led to several deaths and destruction of property.

On Tuesday, an operational vehicle of the task force was destroyed by an angry mob at Agip junction after a team of the task force caused a devastating accident leading to the death of a man.

Theportcitynews visited Rumuola, Waterlines, Mile 1 and other popular junctions on Wednesday morning and found traders displaying their goods.

Wike had in a statement by Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications on Tuesday said his Special Assistant in charge of the Task Force, Mr Bright Amaewhule has been relieved of his appointment.

The statement said members of the Taskforce have been directed to return the operational vehicles and Identity Cards of the body to the Office of the Secretary to State Government not later than 4 p.m today, Wednesday, August 12, 2020.

The statement further said that they will be paid their salaries as they return the vehicles and Identity Cards, adding the Government will reconstitute the Taskforce after proper orientation and training.