Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has revealed that hoodlums who shot and killed three Police escort atop Rumuokoro flyover in Port Harcourt recently had been tracked down by detectives of the State Police Command.
Wike spoke at the Rivers State Emblem Appeal Fund Launching held on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt.
Wike commended the dexterity of the Officers of the command for tracking down the killers of the three policemen around Rumuokoro area of Obio-Akpor council.
Recall that on Friday November 25,2022, some daredevil gunmen shot and killed three escort Policemen atop Rumuokoro flyover Port Harcourt and abducted, Mr Seni Awosike, the Managing Director of IGPES Group of Oil and Gas company in Port Harcourt
Wike also announced that the Rivers State government will give N20M each of the families of the three slain Policemen.
On behalf of the Rivers State Government, Wike also that launched the emblem with N50M.
But he said the yearly raising of funds to cater for the welfare of war veterans and families of fallen heroes is not sustainable, and should be discouraged.
Rather the federal government, he suggested, should set up a standing fund for that purpose, which will be replenished with yearly budgetary allocation as it is done in countries that truly values the contributions of the security agencies.
He emphasised that the day set aside to launch emblem should only be for remembrance purposes, reflecting on the sacrifices made by men and women of the armed forces in keeping Nigerians together and ensuring that peace prevails in the country.
“I think that we are tired in this country with every year meeting to launch emblem to support families of the fallen heroes.
“What I thought, as is done in advance countries, the day should be used for remembrance of their (veterans) efforts.
“That means, by now, as a country, we should have a standing fund that will take care of the families of the fallen heroes. That is what serious countries should be talking about.”
When such is done, Governor Wike noted, the call on individuals and corporate entities by legionnaires will not be the norm anymore.
He pointed out that it is a mockery that the day is spent in soliciting for financial support as an enduring measure of sustenance of legionnaires.
“When you say, you solicit for support of corporate bodies, they laugh at us and say what kind of country is this.
“People who have fought for you. People who have laid down their lives for you to be alive to survive, to continue with what you are doing, we are still talking about how do we support them?”
He said that is most likely the reason why officers of the nation’s security agencies are not committed to professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
“They know when they die, all they will hear is launching of emblem to help their families. So, they are involved in so many things to take care of their families in case anything happens to them.”
That is why, Governor Wike stated, the oil bunkering business seemed to have continued unabated even if it is an economic sabotage, which are allegedly aided by the security agencies.
