…says it’s politically motivated

By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—Rivers State Government has expressed worry  over the military operations in three local government areas recently that allegedly resulted in destruction of property and harassment of persons.

Media aide to Governor Nyesom Wike, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, in a statement, yesterday, alleged that one Major Mustapha, who was reportedly a star witness of the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the hearing on the election petitions in Abuja, was in the team leading the military operations.

The government also expressed worry over the timing, saying that the operations were ahead of the re-run National and State Assemblies elections in the state.

Wike

He said: “Ahead of the re-run National  and State Assemblies elections  in designated  constituencies in Rivers  State, three local government areas  in the state are under politically  motivated attacks which have left in their trail,  tales of deaths, blood, destruction  and open intimidation.

“These joint military/Police  invasions have taken place  in  three councils of the state namely,  Gokana,  Asari-Toru and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni(ONELGA). One recurring decimal in these three deadly  invasions is the fact that one Major  Mustapha  features in all of them. Major Mustapha, a pro-APC  military officer, was the Rivers  State  APC  star witness during the  hearing  of election petitions  in Abuja.

“At Asari-Toru council on  January 6,  2016, Major Mustapha and his team of soldiers  and mobile policemen invaded the residence of the caretaker council chairman, Ambassador  Sobomabo Jackrich, destroying his home and valuables before killing about five youths. They also abducted 50 youths and women who were taken to Port Harcourt.

“The same scenario  played  out  in Bua Yeghe in Gokana LGA where Major Mustapha and his squad attacked the home of Chief Solomon Ndigbara, a former  Niger Delta agitator. They burnt his home before abducting his wife and 70 other youths. Major Mustapha’s illegal  squad also attacked  the home of Chief Ndigbara in Port Harcourt, damaging the facility.

“On January 13,  2016 the soldiers and mobile policemen  were at ONELGA were they unleashed mayhem on lives and property. The residents of the area are still counting their losses.

“It is imperative  to point out that in these three LGAs  where Major Mustapha  and other illegal security  operatives  struck, they were accompanied  by  known APC  political  thugs and militants who acted as identity operatives.  These APC agents who were embedded in these illegal  operations were kitted with security  uniforms. Despite these security  costumes, they were identified  by locals.

“This level of political  desperation is unknown  to the nation’s democratic  history. No authority had in the past handed security  platforms  to political  thugs and associates to unleash untold mayhem and death on law abiding  citizens.”