Recall that the IPOB was classified as a terrorist group by the Federal supreme court and subsequently proscribed in September 2017 by the federal .
However, despite its ban, the group has continued to work in parts of the country, including Rivers State in furtherance of its alien political objectives.
Since its proscription, the group has administered intermittent processions in parts of Rivers State, especially in Oyigbo and a few notorious suburbs in Port Harcourt government Areas.
More often than not, these illegal processions became regular occasions for armed IPOB members to disturb the peace of the State by unleashing violence and destruction on lives and property at will.
The Rivers government had severally pleaded, warned and even advised IPOB and its members to discontinue its insurrectional actions in Rivers State to no avail.
Instead, we were all witnesses to yet, another orgy of violence and destruction inflicted by IPOB at Oyigbo government Area and a few parts of Port Harcourt City government Area on Tuesday 21st October 2020.
This evil, wicked and audacious action resulted within the unnecessary loss of many lives, including soldiers and cops , and therefore the destruction of both public and personal properties, including police stations, court buildings and business premises.
Not done, they also visited physical violence on members of some targeted community which, but, for the fast intervention of the government and therefore the security agencies, would have resulted in some sort of internecine bloodbath within the State.
Today, IPOB continued with its devilish and destructive activities at Rumukwurushi, Iriebe and Oyigbo in open defiance of the State Government’s curfew on human movements.
Security intelligence and surveillance have revealed that IPOB has continued to expand its membership drive, holding meetings regularly, and expanding its logistical base, including the upkeep of illegal detention cells in Emenike and other parts of Diobu, Port Harcourt.
As a matter of fact, Oyigbo town has practically become the group’s main operational base in Rivers State, from which they’ve become notorious for launching premeditated violence and terror on the State, businesses and innocent citizens.
As nation , we've become considerably unsettled by the terrorist acts and endured the continuing irritations, violence, destruction and provocations of IPOB in and against the people of Rivers State.
We agree that Rivers State is a component of Nigeria and has always been a home for all Nigerians and can still be because this is often our true character.
But it must even be understood that Rivers State belongs to the indigenous people of Rivers State.
As a stranger element with strange political ideology therefore, IPOB has no legal or moral right to invade Rivers State or any part therefore at its behest; to disturb public peace; and subject lives and property to violence or threat of destruction under any guise.
What is clear from this behaviour is that our love, accommodation and hospitality towards all are being mistaken for weakness by the banned IPOB.
This being so, the time has come for us to sound this notice of warning that: enough is enough!!! we will not tolerate this IPOB evil monster in Rivers State. Never.
As a Government, we owe our people and every one residents the responsibility to guard their lives, property and wellbeing and to stop trouble-makers of all shades and character from violating our collective peace, security and pursuit of happiness.
Therefore, in sight of the very fact that IPOB has since been proscribed throughout Nigeria; and
Having come to the firm conclusion that the activities of the banned IPOB aren't just dangerous to lives and property but also constitute clear and present threat to the existential interest and aspirations of Rivers State and every one our people;
We have decided to strengthen , implement and enforce the prevailing judicial and national ban on IPOB by putting a complete and complete stop to its presence and or activities in Rivers State or any part thereof.
Accordingly, as from today 23rd October 2020, the Rivers government has:
(ii) Outlawed IPOB from existing and or operating in Rivers State or any part thereof in line with the proscription order of the Federal supreme court and therefore the federal .
(ii) No sort of procession and or agitation by IPOB or any of its affiliates is allowed to require place in Rivers State or any part thereof, hence forth.
(iii) Security agencies are hereby directed to prevent any sort of procession or agitation by IPOB in Rivers State or any part thereof and arrest and prosecute a person or group that identifies with the membership or activities of IPOB within the State;
(iv) Government will issue an executive order to strengthen and make sure the effective enforcement of those measures;
(v) i will be able to be meeting with all leaders of youth groups and community development committees within the State on Monday 26th October 2020 to require wholistic measures to counter and stop all IPOB activities in Rivers State;
(vi) Mr. Stanley Mgbere from Onne is hereby declared wanted for leading members of the banned IPOB to cause the recent violence and destruction of lives and property in Onne in Eleme government Area; and
(vii) A ransom of N50,000,000.00 are going to be given to a person with useful information that might cause the arrest and prosecution of the said Mr. Stanley Mgbere.
I wish to appeal to the people of Oyigbo government Area to stay calm and to not take the laws into their hands despite the extreme provocation as government has the capacity to affect the challenge and make sure the safety of lives and property within the government Area.
we'll soon perform on the spot inspection and assessment of the destruction they need suffered and take appropriate measures to mitigate the loss and damage caused to lives and property.
We hereby express our sympathies to the families of all people who have either lost their loved ones or suffered damages to their properties from the destructive acts of IPOB in our State.
Be assured that they need not died vainly and that we will do everything within our powers to offer all the victims justice.
We appeal to leaders of the varied ethnic groups residents within the State to make sure that their members respect the sensibilities of our people and refrain from provocations and acts of hooliganism that would breach peace and security within the State.
Finally, I wish to assure all Nigerians that Rivers State will still be the house for all tribes as we'll not shirk in our responsibility to make sure the peace, security and happiness of all residents in Rivers State.
We cannot allow IPOB miscreants and other misguided similar groups to threaten our collective peace, security and wellbeing under whatever guise.
Thank you and should God still bless Rivers State”.
Well, I even have nothing much to mention regards to the present . i feel the governor is merely trying to be security conscious and to guard his people.
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