Security Agencies Destroying Illegal Refineries Cause of Soot Menace, Alleges Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the "black soot" damaging the state's environment was mainly caused by Federal Security Agencies destroying illegal refineries.

Wike stated that the Rivers State Government had formally approached the Federal Government to help resolve the challenge, without any assistance from that quarter.

Speaking during a special appearance on Channels Television Sunrise Daily at the Government House Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said security agencies must find alternative ways of destroying illegal refineries.

He said: "We set up a technical committee to investigate the black soot problem. The committee's report indicated that the black soot was largely a product of the destruction of illegal refineries by security agencies.

"It is not within the purview of the state government to control the security agencies. Therefore, we met with them and appealed that they find alternative ways to destroy the illegal refineries.

"We also appealed to the Federal Government to intervene, but so far they are yet to do anything".

The governor added: "We have prioritised this issue, but we cannot stop the security agencies. There must be a refined way of stopping the oil criminals, without damaging the environment ".

He said politics must be separated from governance in respect of issues that affect the people.

"We should separate politics from governance. This issue of environmental challenge posed by the black soot requires the direct intervention of the Federal Government.