Daily Trust

Wike places N200m on perpetrato­rs of Omoku killings

New Year attack not religious — Gov Ahmed

- From Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt From Romoke W. Ahmad, Ilorin

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has placed a N200 million tag for informatio­n that can lead to the arrest of those who killed many in an attack in Omoku Monday morning.

Wike spoke yesterday after he led the Rivers State Security Council on Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday reiterated that attacks on some religious worshipper­s on the New Year is not a religious attack as being insinuated by some people.

This is as the governor assured people of the state of his readiness to deploy the law and public fund to achieve peace, unity and progress in the state.

Scores of people were on Monday injured after an attack on both Christian and Muslim worship centres allegedly by youths from the Taiwo Isale a fact finding/sympathy visit to the families of the deceased.

Most of the victims were ambushed and killed on the dawn of the New Year as they were returning from crossover service held in various churches.

“Anybody who is connected to this crime in any way will have his/her houses forfeited to the government. This place had been peaceful before area of Ilorin.

The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, said three people were injured, but the Special Adviser on Security to the Kwara State Governor, Amusa Bello, said at least 25 people were injured.

Governor Ahmed made his commitment in Ilorin in separate meetings with leadership­s of Christian Associatio­n of Nigeria (CAN), Kwara State and Quareeb Associatio­n.

According to the governor, “I stand before God and man to effectivel­y deploy the instrument­alities of this unfortunat­e mayhem. We will not allow another case of this violence. We have mobilised the security agencies to take the battle to the perpetrato­rs,” Wike said.

The governor said the government would support the bereaved in burying their loved ones and settle the medical bills of those receiving treatment at different hospitals. the law and public fund to achieve peace, unity and progress in the state. Anyone who participat­e directly or indirectly in public disorder shall be brought to book”.

Governor Ahmed urged religious bodies not to allow miscreants who for economic reasons seek disaffecti­ons among various religious adherents in the state.

“This state is a State of Harmony. And we must all collective­ly work to sustain our cherished peaceful environmen­t. Don’t play into the hands of mischief makers by labeling the activities of miscreants on New Year as

The Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area, Mr Osi Olisa, informed the governor that 17 people lost their lives as a result of the attack in Omoku.

In an interview, Prophetess Comfort Ordu who lost her husband and three of her children, said they were dragged out of their home and killed by the perpetrato­rs. religious issue. The benefit of unity is too high to allow it slip our hands,” he said.

Responding, the state Chairman of CAN, Prof Tunde Opoola, urged the governor to ensure that justice was truly done as a way of assuring that the Christian community in the state renew their confidence in the state government.

On his part, Chairman, Alfathiu Quarib, Mal. Oniye Abdulrasak said the associatio­n had harmonious relationsh­ip with the Christian community and dissociate­d the organisati­on from any attack on any church.

 ??  ?? From left: Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Mr Osi Olisa; Area Commander, Nigeria Police Force, Mr Mike Nwafor; Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; State Director of the Department of State Services, Mr Tosin Ajayi; and the Brigade...
From left: Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Mr Osi Olisa; Area Commander, Nigeria Police Force, Mr Mike Nwafor; Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; State Director of the Department of State Services, Mr Tosin Ajayi; and the Brigade...

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