Omoku killing: Wike offers N200m reward for information

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is offering N200 million bounty for information that would lead to the arrest of perpetrators of the Omoku massacre.

Wike spoke yesterday, after he led the State Security Council on a fact-finding and sympathy visit to families of the deceased.

He also visited those injured during the attack.

The governor equally visited sites of the crime where he received briefing from the Nigeria Police Area Commander, Mike Nwafor, and the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council Caretaker Chairman, Osi Olisa.

Said Wike: “We have placed a N200 million bounty for relevant information that will lead to the arrest of those involved in this unfortunate act of violence.

“Anybody who is connected to this crime, in any way, will have his or her houses forfeited to the government. This place has been peaceful before this unfortunate mayhem.

“We will not allow another case of this violence.  We have mobilised security agencies to take the battle to the perpetrators.”

The governor further disclosed that all those linked to the Omoku violence would face the full weight of the law.

“You cannot shed innocent blood and go free. We are working with security agencies to do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators. They must pay for this,” he said.

The governor commiserated with the families of the deceased, and added that the state government will support them in burying their loved ones, as well as settle the medical bills of those receiving treatment at different hospitals.

“I am pained by this unfortunate mayhem. Enough is enough,” he said.

The governor and service commanders also visited the residence of wanted cultist, Don Waney, where the governor commended security agencies for working hard to improve the security of the state.

On his part, Olisa informed the governor that 17 persons died in the attack.

Meanwhile, Prophetess Comfort Ordu said she lost her husband and three children in the incident.

Ordu disclosed this when the governor’s entourage visited.

She said victims were dragged out of their home and killed by the perpetrators.

Some of those killed  included: Favour Odili, Saviour Amirinze, Augustine Ordu, Precious Ordu, Wisdom Ordu, Jennifer Ohia and Innocent Ohia.  Others were Reuben Idogu, Baby Idogu, Ngozi Ogbuanukwu, Oyi Ogadinma, Nwakaego Ogadinma and Uche Onige.

Regardless, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has asked Wilke to resign.

In his reaction to the latest killings in the state, Amaechi said although he has promised not to talk about Rivers, nobody should keep quiet after the deaths.

Amaechi said Wike has allegedly been encouraging militant groups because of politics and election and that it is time he acts on the oath he swore to protect lives and property.

Amaechi, who is also a former governor of the state said: “I think the governor needs to get a bit more serious, he should stop encouraging militant groups in the name of politics and election.

“You heard about 21 only in Omoku, what about in Akutoru, where two persons were killed? What about other councils.

“I think there should be much more than age to qualify to be a governor because it takes much more than age.

“I was governor of Rivers state, I did not play PDP/APC politics, life is life it has no symbol.

“Nobody has APC life or PDP life.

“The first responsibility of a governor which is what the oath of office requires, is that you swear to protect lives and property.

“When you don’t protect life and property what do you do? Is impeachment. Unfortunately there is no House of Assembly in Rivers state…

“I just don’t know because the things are there for him to work with…Because he needs these people for election purposes, that is why they are still there, that is why they are killing, we need much more than that.

“Unfortunately, I swore not to talk about Rivers anymore but, you don’t keep quiet in the face of 21 lives, you cannot just keep quiet.

“I have said it that nobody should criticise his successor let him do his bit but a successor that watches the lives of people go like that and does not care? God will bless him.”

In a swift response, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Emma Okah, described as regrettable, Amaechi’s indictment of federal security agencies. 

Okah described Amaechi’s statement as false and an infantile attempt to gain political mileage. 

“Over the last few days, there have been nationwide upsurge of violence, leading  to the unfortunate deaths of Nigerians.

“Is Amaechi claiming that in all these instances, the governors of the respective states armed the killers?

“In Southern Kaduna, several persons, including a traditional ruler and his pregnant wife were killed.

“In Kwara State, a new year violence claimed several lives. In Yobe State, Boko Haram insurgents killed five soldiers while several community youths lost their lives. 

“Also, in Lagos State, Badoo cultists killed a family of five, while, over the last few days, Fulani herdsmen have killed scores of innocent Nigerians  in Benue State.

“We need not mention the scores killed over the last two weeks in Plateau, Adamawa and  Zamfara states by Fulani herdsmen. 

“It is regrettable that the chief financier of the All Progressives Congress national campaign would politicise a security challenge effectively domiciled at the doorsteps of federal security agencies. 

“The fact that he made such statement at the Presidential Villa (in Abuja) is a sad commentary.

“For the records, governor Wike has funded and equipped security agencies in the state more than any other state governor has done.

“Rather than being commended for the sacrifice, ingrates like Amaechi see nothing in the genuine efforts of a patriotic leader, which Wike represents.”