TPCN Editorial Board
The resurgence of widespread cult-related killings in Andoni and Khana Local Areas of Rivers State should have alarmed any governor but not Nyesom Wike. The governor, known for his vociferousness, seems too shy to talk about the killings happening under his nose. It, however, appears like the reason why the killings have not made it to the governor’s speeches is that there are no political points to score with such.
More than 50 persons have been killed in Andoni in the last two months since cultists began fighting a bitter supremacy battle in the area. The local government is famed for not having any functional police station. From cholera outbreak to kidnapping and killings, Andoni has become the headquarters of lawlessness.
Killings in the area have displaced more than 2000 persons who are now living as Internally Displaced Persons in Ka community, Khana Local Government. Last week, the IDPs said that life has been unbearable as they can hardly feed. In Ka community where most of the IDPs are taking refuge, over 70% of them lack shelter with the majority wandering about in the day and taking shelter in shops and abattoirs in Ka market at night.
They have appealed to the government to identify with their plight and ensure that peace returns to the troubled communities of Andoni. Speaking to newsmen, the IDPs said: “We want to go home. Here in Ka, there are nowhere to sleep, we sleep outside. We want the government to help us and ensure that peace returns to Andoni. We can’t even go fishing, because we are not at home.
“Some of us can’t find our children and in Ka, we can’t find a place to sleep, we can’t find food to eat. Some of our aged mothers, we carry them, some of us sleep in the packing stores at Ka community. From Ajagaja down to Dema, we are suffering. Let the government help us and restore peace in Andoni so we can return home. We are suffering, please we need peace in Andoni land”.
In the cause of running for their lives, some person got drowned in the river. According to them, the river is full this time. Some of them also fear that their children may not participate in the forthcoming primary school exams. So why is Wike silent?
In Khana, gunmen have been running rampaging, mauling down anyone on sight. This was also echoed by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP when it gave the killings in Ogoni as part of the reasons it boycotted Wike’s reception by Ogoni people.
According to MOSOP: “Our people are being murdered daily in communities bordering Okrika and Oyigbo while the government does nothing to protect the citizens. That is not something to celebrate and we wish to express our displeasure by boycotting the said reception for the governor”.
The Ogoni Youths Federation further echoed the need to prune the rising insecurity in the area when it advised Ogoni leaders, especially the political class and those that have the means to give support to security agencies in order to enable them to perform optimally in the battle against insecurity in Ogoniland.
President-General of OYF, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana noted that two out of the three operational vehicles at the Bori Police stations are grounded. With only one vehicle, there is no way the battle against insecurity in Ogoni can be won.
“The DPO, SP. Bako Angbashim uses commercial Bike (Okada) as a means of transportation most times due to the non-availability of a vehicle”, he said.
Wike should not forget that it is his responsibility to safeguard every resident of the state. That the APC-led federal government has failed to live up to its expectations should not warrant him to refuse to speak up. He should do everything possible to stop cult-related killing by declaring a state of emergency on cultism and providing employment opportunities to the youths.
