Africa Press-Nigeria:
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has placed N50 million bounty on one Mr Stanley Mgbere, for allegedly leading proscribed members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to cause violence and destructions of properties in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on Wednesday.
The governor made the declaration in a statewide broadcast on Friday in PortHarcourt.
Governor Wike further reinforced a ban on activities of IPOB in the State in line with the proscription order of the federal government.
Wike said no form of procession or agitation by the group or any of its affiliates is allowed to take place in the State henceforth.
“Stanley Mgbere has hereby declared wanted for leading members of the banned IPOB to cause the recent violence and destruction of lives and property in Oyigbo Local Government Area; a ransom of N50,000,000.00 will be given to any person with useful information that would lead to his arrest and prosecution, ” the governor said.
He explained that the state government made the decision having observed that the activities of the banned IPOB are not just dangerous to lives and property, but also constitute a clear and present threat to the existential interest and aspirations of Rivers State and all her people.
“Security agencies are hereby directed to stop any form of procession or agitation by IPOB in Rivers State or any part thereof and arrest and prosecute any person or group that identifies with the membership or activities of IPOB in the State; Government will issue an executive order to strengthen and ensure the effective enforcement of these measures,” he said.
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He disclosed that he will be meeting with all leaders of youth groups and community development committees in the State on Monday 26th October 2020 to take holistic measures to counter and stop all IPOB activities in Rivers State;
He recalled that since IPOB was classified as a terrorist organisation by the Federal High Court and subsequently proscribed in September 2017 by the Federal Government, the group has carried out intermittent processions in parts of Rivers State, especially in Oyigbo and some notorious suburbs in Port Harcourt Local Government Areas. According to him, IPOB aim had been to disturb the peace of the State by unleashing violence and destruction on lives and property at will.
The Rivers State Government, according to the governor, had severally pleaded, warned and even advised IPOB and its members to discontinue its insurrectional actions in Rivers State to no avail. Instead, IPOB unleashed another orgy of violence and destruction inflicted at Oyigbo Local Government Area and some parts of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area on Tuesday 21st October 2020.
He said this evil, wicked and audacious action resulted in the unnecessary loss of scores of lives, including soldiers and police officers, and the destruction of both public and private properties, including police stations, court buildings and business premises.
