Traditional Rulers, Chiefs eulogize Army, others for averting bloodbath in Rivers State

Worried by the increasing spate of politically induced violence across local government councils in Rivers State, Traditional Rulers and Chiefs in various communities have eulogized ‘the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding, (GOC) 6 Division, Nigeria Army, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police Rivers State, and their respective officers and men’, for averting the repeat of killings that trailed the 2015 general elections.
At a press conference in Rivers State, today, March 12, 2019, the Nenwe Eli Rundele, Paramount ruler of Rundele Kingdom, in Emohua Local Government Area, HRH Eze Kpaniku Esq, said they ‘believe that the continued adequate military protection and presence during and after the electoral process, will sanitize our State and drastically reduce the patronage of political thugs who are engaged by unconscionable politicians to subvert the electoral process and terrorize our people”.
Below is the excerpt of the press conference:

PRESS CONFERENCE BY TRADITIONAL RULERS, CHIEFS & ELDERS OF RIVERS STATE ON THE SECURITY AND PROTECTION PROVIDED FOR CITIZENS OF THE STATE DURING THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS

We, the Traditional Rulers, Chiefs and Elders are gravely concerned and embarrassed by the worsening unsavoury profile and negative publicity which the State has been identified with within the last five years. We are all witnesses to the brutal killings of our children by fully armed cult gangs sponsored by political actors who unleashed violence in the 2015 General Elections. Hundreds of our citizens were brutally murdered and many more maimed, killed and abandoned to litter our streets. Sadly many families are yet to recover from the deaths which occurred in that election. Similarly, the Supplementary & By-Elections which held in December 2015 & February 2016 left many dead bodies in their trails. Indeed after each election cycle, our State is left at the mercy of these armed hoodlums, who thereafter engage in kidnapping, killings and other social vices. A disturbing case in point was the horrible carnage in Ogba\Egbema\Ndoni LGA which led to the operations by the Federal Government in January 2016 and the final decimation of the dreaded Don Wany criminal empire. The consequence of these security breaches is that the economy of our State has been severely affected, resulting in most businesses and families relocating to other States in the Country.

As we are all aware threats of use of cultist, and armed militia in the guise of sponsored illegal vigilante groups was rife as we approached the 2019 election season. It was therefore not surprising that Rivers State was classified by the security agencies and indeed the print and electronic media as one of the flash point States that required special security focus. It was undoubtedly for this reason that the Federal Government deployed adequate Military and Police detachments to provide security cover during the 2019 General Elections.

As Traditional Rulers, Chiefs & Elders of the State we deem it necessary to speak out to commend all the security agencies particularly the Police, and the Military for the professional and dedicated manner in which they provided a conducive and safe environment for all citizens and residents of the State to participate in the elections, We make bold to state with all sense of purpose and responsibility that given the antecedents and impending threats from the hoodlums and their pay masters it was absolutely necessary that the Federal Government protect citizens of the State. Notwithstanding the security arrangements provided in the Presidential Election, our State regrettably recorded a few cases of fatalities including the brazen killing of some Military & Police officers by this armed gangs.

We join all well meaning citizens of the State to appreciate the salutary efforts of the Chief of Army Staff, and the General Officer Commanding, (GOC) 6 Division, Nigeria Army, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police Rivers State, and their respective officers and men; we also acknowledge the roles of the Civil Defense and all other Security agencies who implemented the President’s directives with discipline, credibility and professionalism.

We believe that the continued adequate military protection and presence during and after the electoral process, will sanitize our State and drastically reduce the patronage of political thugs who are engaged by unconscionable politicians to subvert the electoral process and terrorize our people.

Finally, we must pledge our unalloyed support and use this occasion to extend our appreciation to The President & Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari, GCFR for his commitment to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians and particularly providing additional security cover during the Gubernatorial and House of Assembly Elections which we must acknowledge held peacefully on March 9, 2019 with near zero fatalities.

On behalf of our people, we salute the bravery of our gallant soldiers and Policemen who died in the line of duty and pray for the repose of their souls and the souls of all other persons who unfortunately died during the elections.

MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PERFECT PEACE.

FOR THEMSELVES AND ON BEHALF OF ALL RIVERS PEOPLE