SARS behind kidnappings, robberies in Rivers – Wike

THE Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police of being behind the series
of kidnappings and armed robbery incidents in the state.

Wike explained that the embattled Rivers State Special
Anti-robbery Squad Commander, Mr Akin Fakorede, and his operatives
had been indicted by an official police signal, which indicated
that they were responsible for the series of kidnappings and deadly
robbery incidents across the state.

The governor, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt on
Wednesday, stated that the SARS Commander was planted in the state
to sabotage the security architecture of Rivers and create an
atmosphere of fear.

He specifically said that the criminal activities of Fakorede
were uncovered by the Inspector General of Police X Squad, Abuja,
deployed in the state after the team busted the attempted kidnap of
one Mr. Azumana Ifeanyi on September 11, 2017 at the GRA, Port
Harcourt.

Wike said: “Most of the kidnappings and armed robbery taking
place in this state are done by men of SARS. They use exhibit
vehicles to operate. As the Chief Security Officer of the state,
you complain, but they choose to play politics with crime.

“They fight crime in some state, but they refuse to fight crime
in Rivers State. We are done with the elections, but they are using
SARS to create insecurity in the state. As I speak with you, they
will deny.

“But the SARS operative, who was killed, was amongst those who
raided the Rivers East Senatorial District Collation Centre. This
man can be identified in the video as one of those who invaded the
collation centre with Fakorede.”

The governor stated that the deliberate acts of violence being
perpetrated by the police had been planned as part of the rigging
process for 2019.

“I have never seen a country where they politicise crime. It is
very obvious that they want to give the impression that Rivers
State is unsafe. They want to instil fear preparatory to declaring
during the elections that there are so much killings.

“Authorities deliberately trying to destroy a whole state and
you want the people to be happy. I will no longer write (to the
IGP). Now is the time to take my case to the public for the whole
world to know what is happening,” Wike added.

The governor maintained that his administration had invested
more than any other state in security, logistics and lamented that
the Police was working against the state.

THE Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police of being behind the series
of kidnappings and armed robbery incidents in the state.

Wike explained that the embattled Rivers State Special
Anti-robbery Squad Commander, Mr Akin Fakorede, and his operatives
had been indicted by an official police signal, which indicated
that they were responsible for the series of kidnappings and deadly
robbery incidents across the state.

The governor, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt on
Wednesday, stated that the SARS Commander was planted in the state
to sabotage the security architecture of Rivers and create an
atmosphere of fear.

He specifically said that the criminal activities of Fakorede
were uncovered by the Inspector General of Police X Squad, Abuja,
deployed in the state after the team busted the attempted kidnap of
one Mr. Azumana Ifeanyi on September 11, 2017 at the GRA, Port
Harcourt.

Wike said: “Most of the kidnappings and armed robbery taking
place in this state are done by men of SARS. They use exhibit
vehicles to operate. As the Chief Security Officer of the state,
you complain, but they choose to play politics with crime.

“They fight crime in some state, but they refuse to fight crime
in Rivers State. We are done with the elections, but they are using
SARS to create insecurity in the state. As I speak with you, they
will deny.

“But the SARS operative, who was killed, was amongst those who
raided the Rivers East Senatorial District Collation Centre. This
man can be identified in the video as one of those who invaded the
collation centre with Fakorede.”

The governor stated that the deliberate acts of violence being
perpetrated by the police had been planned as part of the rigging
process for 2019.

“I have never seen a country where they politicise crime. It is
very obvious that they want to give the impression that Rivers
State is unsafe. They want to instil fear preparatory to declaring
during the elections that there are so much killings.

“Authorities deliberately trying to destroy a whole state and
you want the people to be happy. I will no longer write (to the
IGP). Now is the time to take my case to the public for the whole
world to know what is happening,” Wike added.

The governor maintained that his administration had invested
more than any other state in security, logistics and lamented that
the Police was working against the state.