Wike pledges improved security for Ogoni communities

RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has assured residents of Ogoni communities that more security assistance would be extended to them to stem the rising insecurity in the communities.

Ogoni communities of Khana and Gokana Local Government Areas of the state have been enmeshed in incessant violent attacks by hoodlums suspected to be cultists in the last one month.

The hoodlums appearing to be taking on the communities in twos, penultimate week, were Taaba and Okwali of Khana LGA, where nine persons were reportedly killed and several other injured, as tens of houses were either touched or razed, including the house of a second class traditional ruler in the area.

Earlier, two communities including Khana and Gokana were attacked with some casualties recorded. Sources said the attacks were cult-related, the latest reportedly took place last Thursday and Friday. Two communities of Kono-Boue and Kereken-Boue Towns in Khana LGA, with about five persons feared dead, and several houses destroyed and burnt by fire.

Wike visited the communities yesterday in the company of service commanders for on-the-spot assessment of the level of damage and to condole with the families whose loved ones were killed in the attacks.

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He assured the people of the communities that more security officials would be deployed to help curb the attacks and restore peace and sanity to the area.

Wike said that security agencies have been mobilised  to go after the criminal cultists operating in Ogoni communities, and assured that they would be punished for the crime they committed when apprehended, and appealed for the cooperation of members of the communities in fishing out the culprits.

He said that the State Security Council has adopted new strategies to build the security framework in communities troubled by cultists.

He charged parents to monitor their children. He said communities must take measures to discourage youths from becoming cultists.

Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Mr Lahteh Loolo, explained that cultists displaced some communities in the area. He commended the Rivers State governor for his sustained response which reduced the level of casualties suffered by the communities.  He said that with the new strategies introduced by the Rivers State governor, the security challenge facing the area would be resolved.

The traditional ruler of Kono Boue, Chief Ezekiel Manson, expressed happiness with the intervention of the Rivers State governor. He said when the cultists attacked the community, the divisional police officer and his personnel responded positively.