‘They Want To Destroy Rivers’ — Says Wike On Police Invasion Of Ex NDDC MD Home

NDDC probe takes a new twist after siege on Nunieh’s residence

Wike asks IGP to investigate invasion.

Wike calls on NDDC colleagues to shield Nunieh from any harm.

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has described as disgraceful the invasion of former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr Joy Nunieh by armed security operatives.

Men of the Nigerian police force had in the early hours of Thursday lay siege to Nunieh residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital.

The invasion might not be unconnected to the crisis rocking the Niger Delta Development Commission. Nunieh is scheduled to appear before the House of Representatives panel probing the allegation of grand larceny and malfeasance in the commission.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communucation, Paulinus Nsirim, Wike disclosed he intervened in Nunieh’s travails in order to save her from abduction.

He insisted he was on ground to forestall the attempted abduction and chastise the self-styled armed policemen, who claimed to be members of the Inspector General Monitoring Unit.

Consequently, Wike called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately investigate the saga.

He noted that it was imperative to expedite a probe on why over 50 armed policemen stormed the Port Harcourt residence of Nunieh at 4am on Thursday.

The governor wondered what would have happened to Nunieh if the police had gained access to her main room.

He said: “But to storm her residence at such an unholy hour suggests some sinister motive that should not be tolerated.

“What has happened today is a disgrace. Who knows what would have happened to her if they had gained access to her main room? I went there personally to see things for myself and rescued her.

Also Read: NDDC: Nunieh Moved To Govt House As Security Operatives Storm Her Residence

“She is supposed to testify before the House of Representatives Committee and here we are having armed men wanting to abduct her.

“We came out to protect our daughter and we will do so to every Rivers citizen. That is the oath of office I swore to. It doesn’t matter the political affiliation. We will not allow anybody to destroy Rivers state.

“It is so unfortunate and I cry for this country concerning the ways things are going. They didn’t have a warrant of arrest, but would storm somebody’s house, in fact, the State Commissioner of Police is not aware.”

Wike sarcastically asked how come the state commissioner of police in the state didn’t know of the invasion,.

” So, tell me how something will happen in a state and the Commissioner of Police is not aware? They said it’s the Inspector General Monitoring Unit.

“So, we have such a unit taking over the responsibility of crime fighting in a state and the Commissioner of Police is not aware? I can also assume too that the Inspector General of Police is not aware. He should investigate it”.

The Governor also called on his colleagues in the NDDC to ensure that their citizens did not have a hand in the planned abduction of the former Managing Director of NDDC.

He said: “If there is any allegation of crime against her, I will not back her but you can’t kill her for no established crime. I don’t know who’s responsible but whoever is behind it should not take Rivers state for granted because we will fight back.

“From what has happened now, I want to say that Rivers State is fully out. Anybody who is responsible for this attempted abduction of our daughter, should know that enough is enough.

“They can’t treat her as a common criminal. I am sure that President Muhammadu Buhari is not aware of this.

“All the Niger Delta States should find out if any of their citizens have a hand in the unfortunate incident and call on such people to leave our daughter alone. She is no longer the Managing Director of NDDC.

“The way things are going now, it seems people want to destroy Rivers State and it is unacceptable.

“Using the police to carry out abduction of citizens should not be encouraged. A similar incident had happened in this state before when they wanted to use the same style to abduct a serving Judge”.

Nunieh, who thanked Wike for coming to her rescue, said the armed policemen came about 4am, broke into her premises but were stopped by the security door leading to her main room.

She said: “Those who told me the Commissioner of Police was downstairs lied because it was his deputy that actually came.

“I opened the door and they wanted to grab me. I pushed back the door and locked it and went upstairs.

“So, my Governor came, asked them for the warrant of arrest and why they did not invite me to the police station instead of attempting to abduct a woman like a criminal.

“The Governor took me away in his car and I am taking refuge in Government House. I want to thank His Excellency for keeping to his word that nothing should happen to a daughter of Rivers State.

“I was supposed to be going to Abuja today to make my submission before the Committee of the House of Representatives. I am sure the motive was to stop me”.