By Emma Obe
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has ordered the destruction of shanties and illegal settlements along the East-West road cutting across Ahoada East, Emohua, and Eleme Local Government Areas as part of efforts to rid the state of all criminal hideouts.

The governor who stated this in a broadcast to residents of the state on Friday also ordered the Rovers State Waste Management Agency to clear all refuse heaps in the state within one week or be disbanded.

The governor said the decision to clear all criminal hideouts was to prevent invaders from using those places to plan “their foolish attack on targeted security posts and personnel.”

Wike disclosed that the State government had identified hideouts, safe houses and secret places that provide both cover and comfort for the hoodlums to plan, execute and return to after operations.

“This was the reason we ordered the destruction of all the shanties and makeshift structures located along Elele to Ahoada expanse of the East-West road to deny the criminals the opportunity to continue to undermine our security from these hideouts.

“We have equally decided to destroy all the shanties, illegal shops and mechanic sheds along the Eleme to Onne stretch of the East-West road having discovered these places also as hideouts and operational bases for criminals and criminal activities in the State.

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“Consequently, I hereby direct owners of such shanties and illegal structures along the Eleme – Onne axis of the East-West road to vacate the area within two weeks from today 11th June 2021 as the State Government will go ahead to destroy these structures without any further notice.”

Governor Wike said Government is not unmindful of the economic effect these measures will have or may have had on residents carrying out businesses in the affected areas but had discharged its constitutional responsibility to advance the collective security of all with no ethnic targets in mind or attachment to political sentiments.

“We will continue to take the war on criminality and insecurity to the den of the criminals and we will neither yield nor lower the tempo of our assault until they are comprehensively neutralized. As a matter of fact, they want us to prematurely terminate the statewide night-time curfew in order for them to have the leeway to operate again and roll back the gains of the last few weeks.”

The governor said he has received reports about the excesses of the State Task Force on illegal trading and parks, especially the alleged shooting of motorists, extortion, and abuse of the human rights of citizens, and assured that government would not hesitate to deal with any member of the task force who crossed the boundaries of the law and rational behavior.

The governor, who appealed to motorists and residents to be responsible road users by complying with the clear regulations against illegal trading, indiscriminate parking and irresponsible driving, noted that a situation where some motorists would have the effrontery to compete for traffic space with or even attempt to block his official vehicular convoy leaves much to be desired.