Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the governor of Rivers State, has declared nineteen (19) people wanted for operating illicit crude oil refinery sites that are to blame for the state’s black soot pandemic.

The governor has also ordered the Rivers State Head of Service to question one Mr. Temple Amakiri, a Director in the Ministry of Energy, for aiding and abetting bunkering activities, and to hand him over to the police for investigation and possibly prosecution.

In a statewide broadcast on Sunday, Governor Wike stated that the administration is committed to tackling the soot pandemic pragmatically by demolishing and shutting down all recognised unlawful crude oil refining sites and operations in the state.

He noted that the State Taskforce on Unlawful Street Trading raided certain illegal crude oil refinery operations in Port Harcourt and detained a number of resistant persons following his 2022 New Year Message outlining plans to combat the black soot scourge.

“Furthermore, the following persons who have been identified as kingpins of bunkering and illegal crude oil refining activities in their communities have been declared wanted and directed to report themselves to the State Police Command, to whom we have already passed their details to:

“Mr. Azubike Amadi, OSPAC Commander, Ogbogoro community and Chairman of Akpor Central OSPAC; Mr. India, of Rumuolumeni community and Chairman of Oil bunkering Association in Akpor kingdom; Mr. Okey who is in charge of Oil bunkering in Rumupareli; Mr. Anderson, who is in charge of oil bunkering activities in Ogbogoro community; Amadi Gift of Ogbogoro community; Azeruowa of Ogbogoro community; and Kingsley Egbula, also of Ogbogoro community.

“Also declared wanted are the following persons who are alleged to be in charge of oil bunkering activities in Isiokpo community: Mr. Kemkom Azubike, Mr. Mezu Wabali, Mr. Chigozi Amadi, Mr. Opurum Owhondah, Mr. Bakasi Obodo ,Mr. Opus, Mr. Galaxi Mas, Mr. Chioma, Mr. Ogondah, Mr. Soldier, Mr. Chefo, and Nkasi.

“We have also identified those behind illegal bunkering activities in Okrika communities, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers South-East and Rivers South-West Senatorial Districts and their names would be soon published and declared wanted, if they fail to voluntarily report to the police.”

He asked people of the state to report those engaging in illicit crude oil refineries and other heinous acts to the State and Local Government Task Forces, which have already been established.

Governor Wike also confirmed the absolute ban on motorcycles in the councils of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt, which was prompted by the aggregate threat they caused to people’s lives and property.

“Any person or corporate entity that requires the use of motorcycle for any lawful purposes must therefore first apply to the office of the Governor for permit and proper documentation of the operational details and particulars of both the motorcycle and designated rider(s).

“Against this background, we are hereby issuing the final warning to all those operation motorcycles shuttles and or hawking foreign exchange along Birabi Street, Hotel Presidential, GRA junction by Zenith Bank up to Tombia Street to immediately leave or be arrested and prosecuted.”

The Traditional rulers in Rumuola, Rumuogba, and Okoro-nu-odo communities, including members of Community Development Committees and youth leaders, were accused by the governor of collecting money from vendors and enabling street trade activities around and under the flyovers in these areas.

“Consequently, I hereby direct the traditional leadership of Rumuola, Rumuogba and Okoro-nu-odo communities to immediately stop all street trading activities around, in or under the flyovers in their respective domains or be deposed, arrested and prosecuted.

“Similarly, the traditional leadership of Rumuwoji Mgbuduku, Obiekwe, Nkpolu-Oroworokwo, Abali, Rebisi, Rumukalagbor-Oroworokwo and Ezimgbu communities are hereby directed to enforce the ban and ensure that no form of trading takes place around and under the flyovers located in their communities.”

In the old and new GRAS of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City, Eleme councils, Governor Wike also banned the usage of umbrella and table trading stands.

According to him, the government has reliable evidence that the majority of the alleged traders in front of houses are informants who watch and pass on essential data and information on the daily movements of highly important people to their criminal partners.

Governor Wike frowned at the Rumuokurushe traditional leadership’s failure to follow through on their promise not to allow any type of street trade on the Rumuokurushe market.

“Unfortunately, the Rumuokurushe traditional leadership has apparently failed to comply with or enforce this condition in that market and Government will not hesitate to again shut it down if the ongoing breach continues unabated.”

𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕?
𝑾𝒆’𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒙 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘!