Rivers moves to enforce closure of illegal private schools

Troubled community seeks police station
The Rivers State Executive Council (SEC) has approved the setting up of a task force to enforce closure of illegal private schools in the state.

Addressing journalists after its first meeting presided over by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike at Government House Port Harcourt yesterday, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paulinus Nsirim, disclosed that the task force would ensure that only approved schools operate in the state.

He also stated that the SEC set up two committees to allocate stalls at the Ogbunabali Fruit Garden Market and the Rumuwoji Market, adding that the committees have up to the end of the month to conclude allocation of the stalls.

He said, “Government is desirous to ensure that Rivers people enjoy the dividends of democracy during Governor Wike’s second term.”

Meanwhile, fleeing residents of Rumuodogo Community in Emohua Council Area, where gunmen killed three members of local vigilance group and an Okada rider have sought a police station to restore peace in the area.

The residents, who are now fleeing the community in their droves, decried the high level of insecurity in the area, saying hoodlums were burning houses and property having laid siege to the community since the killings on Monday.

Speaking to journalists, a resident, Mike Amadi, said, “Last year, we ran away from our community due to crisis and this year again, 2020 we are still running due to crisis.

“We are helpless, we don’t know what to do, so we need the government and security agencies to come to our aid by siting a police station in the community to help restore peace and bring development.”

Another resident said, “This is the farming season, we can’t go to our farms anymore and if we don’t plant during the season, it will be difficult for us to eat in the coming months, we will suffer because farming is our major source of livelihood here.”

The Guardian observed that the community has been deserted since houses were being burnt thereby causing apprehension and anxiety in the area.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, advised the community to put their demands in writing to the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Omoni explained that there were preconditions for siting a police station in an area, assuring that if the community met the conditions, the IGP would certainly grant their request.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Odegu Security and Advisory Planning Committee (OSPAC) whose members were killed by cultists, Goodluck Okoro, has vowed to make the area uncomfortable for criminals, warning them to desist from their dastardly acts or face dire consequences.