GOVERNOR WIKE ALLEGES MILITARY BOSS OF PROMOTING BUNKERING

 “The GOC has his own team now doing oil bunkering for him because he wants to be Chief of Army staff. If you give that kind of person Chief of Army Staff, what kind of security would we have in this country?”

“He cannot be removed here because they know the role he is playing for them: sabotaging our security architecture. We would have security meeting, he will release it to criminals. And Chief of Army Staff will leave the man here because he is playing their role’, Wike added.

Penpushing further reports that, the Governor said he has been leading security efforts to “reduce crime to the barest minimum,” in Rivers, which ranks amongst Nigeria’s most volatile states, but the army constitutes an obstacle for success.

The Governor, who did not provide evidence of his allegations, said it would be difficult for ‘Operation Delta Safe’ to arrest military personnel sent on oil bunkering mission if they encountered one another in the creeks.

Penpushing recalled that, Governor Wike has also regularly accused the government and security agencies, including the police, of plotting to assassinate him without corroboration.

The Major-General, Jamil Sarham declined comments  about the allegations on Sunday but admitted the allegations were “grievous,” and  he had not received clearance to make a public statement as at the time of filing this report.

Penpushing also reports that, the Army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, was quoted saying  he could not comment on the allegations and said the enquiries should be directed to Aminu Ilyasu, a spokesperson for the 6 Division.

The spokesman for the 6 Division, Aminu  Ilyasu, a colonel, also declined comments, stating that he was at a function and could not affirm the appropriate time for him to comment on the allegations.

Penpushing recalled that, Governor Nyesom Wike had been at loggerhead with the Major General (Jamil Sarham) since he was appointed as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 6 Division in August 2018, while it is also on record that, the Governor during elections accused the Army of undermining democracy in the State, after a series of deadly shootings forced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend results collation.

Penpushing also recalled that, two soldiers were killed in the State during the elections between February and March in the State, while a dozen of residents were killed across the State, while a day before the Governorship poll Sarham accused Wike of offering bribes to Military officers.

The Governor, however, denied the allegations, dragging Nigerian Army to the International Criminal Court over the killings, injuries and destruction of properties recorded across the state during the elections.