Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has vowed not to spare persons involved in illegal bunkering and artisanal refinery activities that have caused the soot pandemic in the state.
Wike, who took a tour through the track roads into the forest of Ogbodo community in Ikwerre Local Government Area and the forest of Ibaa community in Emohua LGA to uncover some illegal refining sites, said his administration would ensure an end to the soot menace until he leaves office.
“They can’t be doing this and be killing my people. No reasonable government will allow that. And I can tell you, with all due respect, we will take this matter very seriously. Look at how, every day, in your house, you see the soot. I mean, how can you allow that? So, this one that we can solve, we will solve it. We have assured the people of Rivers State, we will fight this matter to the last until I leave office.”
The governor noted that confronting this cartel kind of business would not be easy; however, he has vowed to consider it a war-like situation and fight it from the standpoint of the law.
He maintained that no matter how highly placed the perpetrators of these illegal activities might be, they would not be spared but confronted, apprehended and made to face the full force of the law.
The governor further directed the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor (SAN), to take over the case files of illegal crude oil refinery operators arrested by the police.
“Attorney General, all these matters with the police, you have to retrieve the files so that you can prosecute the matters on our own. I don’t want any compromise anywhere.
“And, then, too, it will not be on the ministry. You have to constitute a legal team. Go and get our friends all over the country. So that we can execute this prosecution to the last.
“It is a serious matter. And I’m going to take it head on. In fact, it is a war. It is not poor people doing this, they’re a cartel. You must go and arrest these people; Chief W. J. Wocha, you must arrest Fubara Ohaka, and Chief Promise Ezekwe. You must arrest them.
“It doesn’t matter how highly placed you are. If you like, be the paramount ruler. In fact, any traditional ruler that is involved, pick him for me. Let him understand that the law does not respect anybody.”
Speaking further, the governor directed Emohua Council chairman, Chidi Lloyd, to locate residences where processed crude oil products are stored and let the people ascertain their sources.
He noted that the purpose of confronting this havoc was to ensure that those illegal refining activities do not further hamper the health of Rivers people.
“If not our people will continue to die. Even you, you’re not safe from related sicknesses like cancer. All those products in the houses; you must go after them. They must tell you where they got the products. Enough is enough.
“Look at what is happening, they are dying. I want to live. So, we must stop this illegal refinery activities. I have said to the Federal Government, if you are not willing to do anything, don’t promise people anything. You told them that you would do something; how can you promise modular refinery?
“What I’m talking about is the safety of Rivers people. That is more important to me.”
On his part, Chidi Lloyd, noted that the problem of tackling illegal refining activities in the area was beyond the council’s capacity.
He also wondered why the Federal Government that once promised to establish modular refineries in the Niger Delta region has reneged on that promise.
